Build connections

On This Day

Arielle Miller / 2016, Abundance, Acceptance, Accountability, Adventure, Adversity, At Home Workouts, Body Building, Build connections, Celebrate, Celebration, Challenges, Commitment, Community, Fitness, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Lifestyle, mindfulness, Remembering, Strength Training, Teaching, Yoga / Body Building, Facebook, Girls who Lift, Girls with Muscle, Goal Setting. Goal Crusher, Goals, Gym life, Looking Back, New friends, New Year, On This Day, Power Lifting, Reflecting, Yoga / 0 comments

December 26, 2016

Facebook reminded me where I was one year ago today. No surprise I was in the gym but this was before, well before I dreamed of body building or power lifting. As a matter of fact, I was completely unfocused in my personal fitness journey at the point I posted this photo and looking at it now makes me both sad, yet also incredibly proud.

Part of the caption reads:

Recently, I’ve found myself gravitating back towards weight lifting. Man, there is NOTHING like the pump you get from lifting. No amount of cardio or cycling can duplicate the feeling one gets when pushing, pulling, and pressing weights. I’m eager to redefine my love with lifting heavy things. Who knows? Maybe in the New Year I’ll find myself back at #Crossfit?

One year ago today 2015

Almost prophetic, it was like I was laying the ground work for the coming months when I would indeed fully gravitate back to weight lifting taking me down the path of body building, competing (September 5,2016), then power lifting, and soon my first meet (January 22, 2017). Looking at this photo I see hints of the woman I’d later grow into but unbeknownst to me; it’d take almost 3-4 months after I posted this photo to fully commit to myself and my own unfiltered excellence.

At the point this photo was taken I was exactly 1-year post-op from my 4^th knee surgery. In so many respects I allowed myself to be defined by what I thought I could and couldn’t do. I’m not quite sure how and why that happened really. I guess at the point when this photo was taken, I can attribute my lack of success fitness-wise to making excuses for myself. I hid behind the fact that I was a school teacher, serving children all day; then teaching fitness in the evenings—after serving others, motivating, and empowering others, I couldn’t possibly have anything left in me to then pump myself up to lift in the gym.

That’s where the sadness comes from—that’s where I look at this photo and see a woman who could be so great, if only she saw herself the same way others saw her. It breaks my heart to know it took years to arrive at the point in which I am today.

It would be nearly a year where I’d make new friends and reside in a completely new community that I would find the self-confidence to revel in my power and strength. Weight lifting allowed me to restore myself confidence, even when I failed, was tired, or didn’t feel like lifting. Weight lifting has given me purpose and a true sense of self-worth. And honestly, I hate to say this [especially as a yogi and yoga instructor] but yoga never ever made me feel this way. As a matter of fact, the yoga community is the exact opposite of the weight lifting world. Ironically, the yoga world is consumed by ego, aesthetics, and contortionism. Most times, it’s even exclusive and the warm and welcoming community it presents or shall I say, sells to the world, is just that—a sales pitch. And not to knock it, since I too live in, teach, and practice in the yoga world; the weight lifting community is one of authentic friends who could care less about what you’re wearing, what you can do with your body, and what your body looks like. It’s damn refreshing to hang out with women who walk up to you, ask your name, then hug you, smile, and help you lift. Better yet, it’s friggen awesome to go out with a group of girls who don’t talk about how fat they are, what they should and shouldn’t eat, and genuinely like their bodies. Hell, these women LOVE their bodies—HALLELUJAH!

So I look at this woman one year ago and I while I feel a tinge of sadness for her, I also smile knowing that the year she had ahead was one of the best years of her life. The hours spent in the gym with my husband coaching me, meeting new people, building myself up, and sculpting my body, have been some of the best experiences in my life. I am so proud of the work that girl put in and the me of today has committed to putting in massive work as 2017 rounds the corner. The journey will only get harder as my power lifting meet looms on the horizon; and now with the help of a new body building coach, the work I am about to take on will be grueling. But I am ready now, so so so ready.

A year ago I tried to avoid committing to myself because I was scared and filled with self-doubt. Today, I bound into the gym rain or shine, on holidays, sometimes twice a day, and when it calls for it—7 days a week. There truly isn’t anything that I cannot do, and same applies to you too.

Same outfit, different hair, new attitude. The me of 2016.

A lot can and will change in a year if you allow yourself the space to grow. Give yourself permission to thrive and dare to make impactful changes in your life because you are so worth it. I know looking back has allowed me to look ahead to the future with hope—even more hope than I could ever imagine because I know my potential is boundless.

This is Me

Arielle Miller / Body Building, Build connections, Celebrate, Celebration, Community, Fitness, Fitness for Men, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Lifestyle, Strength Training / art, art exhibit, Body Building, confidence, empowerment, feminism, Fitness, girl power, girlgaze, Jen Rosenstein Photography, Lessons, Photography, the Annenberg Space for Photography / 1 comment

October 23, 2016

I’ve worked in fitness for years. And for many of those years, I coveted the success of others with thousands and thousands of Instagram followers and envious of those given the opportunity to shoot for fitness brands I emulate. Often, I angrily scrolled through my feed not double tapping in protest of my own jealousy wishing and wanting so desperately to be someone—anyone else other than myself with a body that could wear clothes in a way that companies would want me to shoot for them. It was a horrible cycle and I was so entrenched in it.

As the years of envy and self-loathing plagued me, I continued to wonder in vain, why not me?

Why couldn’t I be picked for this or that, or why couldn’t I be her? Why, why, why?!?

It wasn’t until I finally realized that I didn’t really actually want to be a model per say. Sure, it’s super cool and great to be heralded for your body and beauty, but when I think about the legacy I want to leave behind in this world; it certainly isn’t with respects to what I looked like, wore, or even my purple hair.

I want to inspire people through my words, my wit, my power, my physical, emotional, and mental strength. I want to help empower people to take back their lives. Free themselves and really live. But most of all, the ripples I want to leave echoing for eternity are ones that celebrate who we are in our infinite power—whether that be physical, professional, or personal. So I didn’t want to be a model; I simply wanted a platform to be heard. I wanted the world to see me, to hear me, and let me change their perspectives by the life I lead.

So in an effort to try to clean up my life, I stopped doing things that were motivated by external validation. I stopped wanting ‘it’ [I mean what is ‘it’ even anyway?] so bad and turned my back on the Instagram yogi. I decluttered my Instagram feed of people that didn’t inspire me and frankly, made me feel bad about myself. And then something remarkable happened—I felt better! I really did. I opened a door to my soul and asked myself what I really wanted to do and wondered how I was going to do it. And then, just like that, on some idle morning I woke up, rolled over and stated to my still sleeping husband, “I’m going to be a body builder.”

I spent 11 weeks preparing for my first show with countless hours in a gym, food shopping, meal prepping, and talking about what I was going to eat, when I was going to eat, and my workouts. Every step of the way, I posted my progress for the world to see. And by progress, I mean the gritty sweaty selfies on the stair machine after leg day and the realities of breaking down into tears when I dropped my food all over the floor. I shared it all and held nothing back. What I received in return from the world of social media was applause for my honesty and what I had been looking for all along; that platform to inspire others to try new things, love their bodies, and live life on their own accord.

So in the midst of this process, when dear friend and famed photographer Jen Rosenstein offered to shoot me before my show to document my journey—I jumped at the opportunity. But what happened next, we could only imagine in our wildest dreams.

Arielle: The Body Builder Photographed by Jen Rosentein

A few weeks after our photo shoot, Jen was approached by the girlgazeproject to have one of the images we shot curated in their exhibit: #girlgaze, a frame of mind at The Annenberg Space for Photography. We couldn’t believe it. THIS WAS IT. THIS WAS THE PLATFORM WE WERE BOTH SEEKING. This was our chance to show the world that women need to be proud of their bodies, accomplishments, and mustn’t allow their voices to be silenced by others and self-doubt. Holy shit, we did it—people will now hear and see me, see us, and be inspired on a visceral level. This. Was. It.

On the eve of October 21^st, 2016, I walked into a museum to see a portrait of myself [in my underwear and bra] hanging on a wall.

I cry as I type this and I have to keep stopping to wipe my eyes.

To see myself immortalized in such a way—the way I always wanted to make waves in this world was so surreal, or shall I say real? I spent the evening with Jen, her friends, meeting others girls in the exhibit, and of course with my husband—for without him, none of what I do could ever be possible. I felt loved, celebrated, honored, and humbled all at the same time knowing that in this moment in time I am truly part of a movement and change in taking back the word girl.

To quote one of the placards at the exhibit:

“We are pushing back against the cultural projections and traditional gender roles imposed upon girls from the outside world, media and culture. Instead, we aim to represent the intelligence, creativity, complexity, and diversity of girls’ experience—across nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation and economic background—by taking back the camera into our own hands. It is up to us—those who identify with being a girl—to show our perspectives, tell our stories, and determine our own identity, sexuality and beauty.”

Arielle: The Body Builder is a piece of raw emotion. It is me, you, your best friend, and the girl at the gym who just joined and is terrified of not knowing how to use the equipment. It is every single girl who dared to take a chance on a dream without worrying about the outcome. It is a timeless story of a girl who said, “Screw what you think, what you want me to be and do. I am me and that’s all I know how to be.”

It is my hope that through this photo you can take something away from it. For me, I look at it and I don’t see the girl who spent years as the ‘fat funny friend’, the slowest one on her college lacrosse them, the anorexic, or the girl who’d be prettier if she just smiled a little more. I see a survivor.

I see a girl who took back her identity, rediscovered her self-confidence, and is truly proud of the scars she wears on her heart and sleeve.

Thank you Jen for giving us a chance to bring others into our worlds, and for giving me a platform to be seen and heard.

Thank you Greg for your undying support of my ceaseless need to constantly push the envelope.

And thank you to my friends, family, as well as those I have yet to know and meet [via the interwebs] who always cheer me on and offer support.

I hope you will continue to be part of my journey. Follow me on Instagram and Facebook and make sure to check out #girlgaze, a frame of mind at The Annenberg Space for Photography. Admission is free and the exhibit runs through late February.

Remember, who run da world.

GIRLS.

The Portrait of a Body Builder, Part II: Finding Your People

Arielle Miller / Abundance, Accountability, Body Building, Build connections, Challenges, Commitment, Community, Confidence In Movement, Fitness, Fitness for Men, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Lifestyle, mindfulness, Strength Training / Body Building, Figure, Figure Competitor, Lifting, Los Angeles, Muscle Beach, New friends, SoCal, Strength, Support System / 0 comments

September 10, 2016

I’m the kind of person that when I set my mind to something there is no stopping me. I literally live my life in GO. There’s no down time, no rest, no breaks, and most certainly no sleeping in or slacking off. And while this intensity can be a great thing to get things started and fuel my efforts, it often has its downside. My impulsivity at times is my Achilles Heel.

For example, when I committed to competing in my first body building show I hired an inexperienced coach to save money. She was a referral from a friend and though I was her first client, I had the utmost faith that everyone has to start somewhere (hence my first show) and that this person could help me grow. Unfortunately, as time unfolded, I learned she was not equipped nor prepared to train me. I felt completely duped as I put my full and complete trust in this person because she was a competitor. In spite of these gut feelings, I went along with the diet and workouts she sent me because wanted to embrace the process fully. I blindly followed her lead because simply I am too trusting a person. It wasn’t long before my husband Greg and I started scratching our heads in response to her meal plans (which included fruit and while on prep, body builders DO NOT eat fruit) and workouts. We couldn’t wrap our heads around how or even why we were paying someone to send me meal plans and workouts late, who couldn’t answer many of my questions, and frankly wasn’t there for me. But alas, I stayed the course.

When I set out to do this, what I was looking for was more than a coach. I was looking for someone to guide and educate me. Someone to bring me into the world of body building and its culture. Someone who could empower me to calculate my own macros and truly understand hypertrophy. What I got instead was someone who spent an hour with me in the corner of a gym teaching me how to pose INCORRECTLY and dropped me with 4 only weeks to my show left claiming she didn’t think I understood and “have what it took to really be a body builder.” Ummmmm, really?! Clearly, this chick didn’t know who she was dealing with.

I wish I could say I felt defeated when my ex-coach dropped me so late in the training process but really I was relieved. It wasn’t working out but who does that kind of thing to a person? Like any other industry, body building is saturated with people who think they’re equipped and qualified to work with eager novice athletes. The truth is you need to do your research. Sometimes looking to save a buck here and there isn’t necessarily the best route. Moving forward, I have learned the value in taking the time to find the right person to help me achieve success and while it may come with a high price tag, it’s worth it.

Unable to dwell to on being coach-less en route to my first show, I posted a vague and inspiring photo on Instgram. What I received in return from people in my circle was not just empathy, but people stepping up to the plate to help me reach my dream of being on that stage. Sometimes, out of darkness grows something so beautiful that it sparkles brightly in the sun. Hell, ain’t nobody gonna dull my shine—that’s for sure.

Years and years ago, I was taking a UCLA Extension class to clear my California State Teaching Credential. My teacher was a petite, sharp, and incredibly likeable woman named Rebecca. Hands down to this date it still reigns as one of the best classes I have ever taken in my life. We remained in contact after the class ended where Rebecca continued to support me in my educational endeavors. She even pushed me to apply and present at a national teaching conference and attended events I hosted at my school. When I say Rebecca is a special woman, special is really an understatement; she is amazing. My newsfeed on Facebook from Rebecca was often filled with pictures of marathons and fun education anecdotes. Until one day it changed when she found body building.

Posing with Rebecca and of course, my trophy

Inspired by Rebecca’s entrance into body building at 50, it gave me the courage to commit to entering my first show. But what’s more, Rebecca proved to be so much more than an inspiration for me. She became my unofficial coach spending her time teaching me how to pose, answering all my questions about peak week, and coming to support me on show day which also meant gluing various parts of my body into my suit [lucky her]. I am so grateful for this woman and the ability to be reconnected with her after all these years and to bond in a different way. Sometimes, you don’t have to look very far to find your people—they were right in front of you the whole time.

Follow Rebecca on Instagram by clicking here.

The age of Instagram and social media has made it easy to befriend like-minded people. Lizzy is one of those people in my realm of fitness and all things yoga, lifting, and inspo. A crossfit coach, power lifter, yogi and major badass—she’s the real deal. Her videos and photos are some of my favorite floating out there in cyberspace, so when I needed help with my workouts—she stepped up and wrote me a program. Not only were her workouts amazing; but they were more demanding than the ones I had initially been prescribed by my former coach. Maybe it was because Lizzy just got me, maybe we are just cut from the same cloth, or maybe Lizzy is just friggen amazing at what she does. Yeah, it’s that. Lizzy, like Rebecca served as a sounding board for me during this process but what’s more is she kindly shared her expertise to help me out because she could. In my eyes, sharing something with someone because you can, without needing nor wanting anything in return is what personifies true kindness and community. Sometimes, you have already found your people if you just look a little closer and forge a connection with the people in those photos we double tap…I imagine there are other Lizzy’s out there willing to help you soar.

Lizzy proves that there is great beauty in physical and emotional strength

Follow Lizzy on Instagram by clicking here.

Show day was something I eagerly looked forward to. I was worried though that I would be spending my day alone since I didn’t know anyone. Were body builders friendly? Were they the kind of people who scoffed at you because you were their competition? Would I be able to make friends? I had no clue and was anxious that I would struggle to connect with others. Oh, how wrong I was. Early into the day I met Julie. I had eyed her from the get-go; a small, gorgeous, girl with curly hair, and the best arms I’ve ever seen. From the instant I saw her, I knew immediately she was competing in the same class and category and I also knew—she was going to win. We were in hair and make up together chatting, giggling, and having a blast when we learned we had much in common like we both worked in fitness. And so, our friendship was born.

Much flexing after my 4th place finish and Julie’s KILLER 1st place showing!

Julie and I spent the entire day together. The more time I spent with her, the more and more I liked her. She is funny, kind, humble, and hard-working. We walked around Muscle Beach and spent the day taking photos with strangers who kept asking us if we were related [which is ridiculous since we look nothing alike, but I’ll take it]. We pumped together before the stage, shared photos, food, and cell phone chargers. And the best part of it all? Sharing the stage with my new-found friend! But it got even better. We were also next to each other on stage; so when Julie took first place in our division, I lit up with excitement and was able to hug her! While we had only been friends for hours at this point, the insta-macy of being together all day for our show made it feel like we were age-old friends. I am beyond excited to have met this radiant soul and I am looking forward to our new friendship. Sometimes, finding your people means you need to do something completely and utterly out of your comfort zone!

Follow Julie on Instagram by clicking here.

Stay tuned for my third installment of The Portrait of a Body Builder, Part III: The Power We Possess. Remember if you don’t already subscribe to my blog to do so by clicking here so you don’t miss a post!

I AM THE GIRL WITH PURPLE HAIR

Arielle Miller / Acceptance, Accountability, balance, Blog, Build connections, Challenges, Community, Fitness, Goal Setting, Hard Work, Lifestyle / Battle Cry, Hard work, Motivation Monday, Own Your Awesome, The Girl with Purple Hair / 6 comments

June 27, 2016

I have spent the last few days feeling sorry for myself–ruminating on a tension-filled interaction with a good friend and coveting the success of others. I guess there really isn’t any other way to put it, I have just been angry and bitter. As a matter of fact, I would go so far to say that I’ve even felt entitled to said success I have yet to achieve. Ugh, it just sounds so bad when you actually say it, but being honest is paramount to understanding how we feel and why.

I guess like so many people, my newsfeed on Facebook is filled with people’s lives—most of which are mundane and ordinary and don’t really appeal to my hopes, wants, and desires. But alas, there are many though that taunt me with travel, packed classes with waitlists, awards, viral articles, modeling contracts, handstands, and lots and lots of flat bellies. It’s so hard not to look at the success of my friends/acquaintances and compare myself, tell myself I am better, more experienced, not good enough or successful, because it doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what I think or feel about myself because those thoughts won’t change what has already been done. So, it’s really a waste to wallow when my energies can be redirected. Comparison is the thief of joy. It really is. So, I decided to reach out to a few trusted friends and share how was I was feeling—like really share how I was feeling, right down to the ugly part of being jealous of others.

First, being honest and owning how I really felt was the first step in starting to help me get over what I was experiencing. It was surprisingly liberating once I realized that these ugly thoughts and feelings came not from a place of malice but my own inadequacies. These realizations helped me redirect my efforts and refuel my desire more than ever—hell, I’m the friggen Girl with Purple Hair. Which reminds me—what does that even mean anyway?

The Girl with Purple Hair is me, you, and all of us. It’s making no apologizes for being who you are and boldly sharing yourself—all of yourself with others and the world.

The Girl with Purple Hair is vulnerable, sensitive, and compassionate.

The Girl with Purple Hair is active in causes by spreading awareness through education.

The Girl with Purple Hair feels deeply for impoverished youth, social justice, and equity for women.

The Girl with Purple Hair is not afraid to cry because emotions are what build bridges and community.

The Girl with Purple Hair makes no excuses, as there is no substitution for hard work in this world. So stop waiting, wishing, hoping, and work for it.

The Girl with Purple Hair forgives those who need to be forgiven and welcomes new and old friends [back into] her life and social circle.

The Girl with Purple Hair is unquantifiable, intangible, organic, and malleable.

The Girl with Purple Hair is me, you, and all of us.

The Girl with Purple Hair uplifts others but also needs those same people and community to in turn do the same.

The Girl with Purple Hair falters, missteps, and struggles [like everyone else].

The Girl with Purple Hair refuses to be defined by her circumstances and a victim of her life.

The Girl with Purple Hair handles shit like a boss and and won’t be bullied into silence for having an opinion, a voice, and setting boundaries.

The Girl with Purple Hair never settles and in the wake of her self-imposed pity, after leg day at the gym, put on a 20-pound weight vest and walked on the treadmill for 15 minutes a 9.0 incline—why?!

Because The Girl with Purple Hair refuses to just accept things as they are.

The Girl with Purple Hair is me, you, and all of us and this is my battle cry.

Whether my hair is purple, pink, blue or whatever shade I am feeling in the moment know this: The Girl with Purple Hair is a force and that same force lives within you. Awaken your dormant beast and unleash it on the world unapologetically. In a society that profits from your self-doubt, loving yourself is a rebellious act. Be a rebel and stand tall in your glory. Never let anyone cast shade on your light shining bright, and work with every fiber of your being to live your most authentic truth.

Own your awesome. Stand tall and vigilant and know that with great risk will always come great return. So, sometimes things don’t work out and you failed. That is part of the process. Part of growing is being stretched and pulled and knocked down to only redefine yourself on your rise back up to the top again. I am human, you are human, we are all human. That means sometimes we need the space and permission to honor how we feel for the good, bad, and in between parts, then handle business.

This is my battle cry.

I am The Fu**ing Girl with Purple Hair—are you ready for me?

We Are All Orlando

Arielle Miller / Build connections, Community, Fitness, mindfulness, Yoga / Love, Orlando, Orlando Shooting, Pride, Pride Month, Yoga / 0 comments

June 17, 2016

I have been waiting to write about the tragedy in Orlando. Clinging to news reports, briefings, and viral videos circulating on social media, the events of this Sunday past have forever been imprinted on my heart. Like 9/11/01, the stirrings of the morning—where I was, who I was with, what I was doing, where I went in the midst of such tragedy throughout the day are, and will remain crystal clear for the duration of my life.

It was like any other Sunday morning. I tossed anxiously in my bed, fearful [as always] that I would oversleep to teach my 9:45am yoga class. I picked my phone up, carelessly scrolling, then put it down to only repeat this charade on and off for some while. Finally, something caught eye—“My heart is with the victims and survivors of the attack in Orlando.”

WHAT?!

Immediately, I popped out of bed and started feverishly googling terms like “Orlando, attack, shooting…” My heart sank. As I delved deeper and deeper into the early morning shooting at Pulse nightclub, the numbness of the reality started to wash over me—there were 50 innocent people dead at the hands of one person—one person—one person—one person.

I cried.

I sobbed and wailed by myself in my apartment. Tears strewn down my face as I struggled to understand the horror that resides in some people’s hearts and I wept for the families, the victims, and the survivors.

I considered subbing out my yoga class. Like 9/11, I knew people would be glued to all news outlets and selfishly I wanted to stay home so I could support those who needed it and not miss one bit of breaking news. But then it hit me—I had to go to class. Like any and all terrorist attacks, we must refuse to alter our lives and live in fear. I had to go to class and hold space for the beautiful souls plucked from our grasp too soon. As a yoga instructor, teacher, friend, wife, sister, teacher, writer—whatever, I had an obligation to lead my class and honor the victims with a moment of silence and combating such raw hatred with pure and honest love.

As my students shuffled in for class, the music pumping, I wondered if I had the capacity to hold myself together to lead them through opening meditation and then the ensuing workout. I doubted myself, and my body trembled with nerves and sadness. I decided to keep things simple—not get too deep into the who-done it and all, so the focus really was on the fallen, the survivors and their families.

I committed our class to love. To rising up as a community—no matter your religion, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, etc. We held hands with those around us. We clasped hands with people we didn’t know, squeezing one another as we leaned on each other. Community is supporting people whether you know them or not. Community is representing one another when others cannot represent themselves. To be a community means to be a voice, support, and undying love for one another—no matter what.

On Sunday, in a yoga room far from Orlando we saw our comrades and we felt deeply for them. We bound ourselves to strangers, not because we were told to, but because we wanted to and it felt right. We held hands several times during class in solidary to show that nothing can and will break us. Our faces ripe with sweat and muscles shaking, we vowed to never turn our backs on each other and to be strength for those who need it. What happened in Orlando is not specific to anyone group—it IS all of us. This is not a solely a gay rights issue or even a Latino issue. We mustn’t start labeling these atrocities as such for it aims to further divide us. What happened last Sunday could have been anyone of us enjoying life, libations, music, and singing and dancing. We are ALL Orlando. Gay, straight, bi, black, white, Asian, Jewish, Christian, and so so so much more— We are ALL Orlando.

We are ALL Orlando.

Rise up in love, stand up in love, and refuse to be broken down. As the great Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.”

Writing a Legacy Worth Leaving Behind

Arielle Miller / Abundance, Build connections, Celebrate, Celebration, Hard Work, School, Teacher Life, Teaching / 0 comments

June 15, 2015

“Those who know, do.

Those that understand, teach.”
― Aristotle

Joseph and I after the graduation ceremony. Yes, I am in yoga pants, as I hustled my butt over to Westwood after teaching a double. When you care about someone or something, one doesn’t make excuses–one makes IT happen!

Yesterday, I had the distinct privilege and honor to watch my former student Jospeh (whom I taught in 2005-2006 when he was in 8^th grade!) graduate from UCLA with a degree in English.

While I’m not a parent, I can only imagine what an overwhelming sensation experiencing such a momentous life event maybe, as I cried like a baby in route to the ceremony and during it. I wept with joy and hope for this young man’s bright future, as it is now HIS time.

Over the last few years, my relationship with my career as an English teacher has been tumultuous. I spent the early years of my career fiercely over-committed to the job by starting my day an hour early and leaving well into the evenings.

I drove students home from school, made home visits, fundraised via a non-profit I created to purchase materials for my classroom, and even owned and operated a website for my students to blog. I made myself fully and completely accessible to my students and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There was no break from my students or my work. I was so dedicated that even on breaks from school, I taught/worked with my students at school in my classroom for FREE to ensure their success!

It was a time in my life that happened in a sort of blur of children, testing, more children, and some great memories. But I also know that during this time while dedicated to my students and school, I had zero life beyond my career, packed on the pounds, and was depressed.

As I dove deeper and deeper into my career, my passion started to fizzle and before I knew it, I hit full out burn out. I cried driving to work in the mornings; I cried when I came home from work. I just couldn’t be at work without wanting to leave the instant I opened my car door. I was lost, angry, and so confused—why was I feeling this way? What happened to me? Wasn’t this my life’s work?!

After months of enduring this horrible vicious cycle, my curiosity got the best of me and I actually mustered the courage to wander into a yoga room. What seems like almost instantly, my life was forever altered for the better. Yoga taught me how to control my breath and how to build the capacity within myself to find balance. And slowly, as I started to regain my footing in life and at work, I started to advocate for myself by ensuring my emotional well-being was always first.

I stopped staying late at school. I immediately left after the last bell to hit a yoga or cycling class, or to play soccer. I did however still arrive early to tackle school work and I also kept my room open to students during recess and lunch times. I knew that in order to continue to serve others in this world, I had to nurture and serve myself first. I learned through my subsequent burn out and revitalization through yoga, that I must do me before I am to be able to truly help others reach their potential.

Yoga and physical movement provided me with the capacity to learn what it meant to value myself and strike some sort of work-life balance. So I am sure you are wondering if my teaching suffered during this journey to reclaiming myself…As a matter of fact, the more I delved into myself, underwent yoga teacher training, and teaching fitness; it made me a better human and an even better teacher. Teaching group fitness helped reawaken my sense of compassion and ability to embrace everyone and meet individuals exactly as they were. So coming back to my sweet Joseph now walking across the stage at UCLA with a degree in English, he hopes to become a teacher. I cannot think of a more powerful way to leave a mark on the world than to inspire someone to go to college, graduate, and essentially follow in my footsteps. I texted my family saying, “My life’s work is complete. I have made my mark, I can die now…”

Pauley Pavilion at UCLA, pre-ceremony

My years of struggle and heartache seemed to disappear when I saw Joseph’s sweet face emblazoned on the screen. They simply all faded away because today was the day I got to watch in real-time the powerful effect that teachers have upon our youth.

People say that today’s youth are well, you know—technology obsessed and nothing like ‘us’. I mean we played outside and used a card catalog when researching school projects in a place called a library—there was no such thing as Google. But if you look a little deeper, and look a little closer, today’s youth are still children waiting to have the right person come into their lives to ignite that spark. It is up to us as teacher, leaders, instructors, clergy, parents, etc. to harness the youth’s interests and help them reach their full potential.

I will never forget the day I watched Joseph graduate from UCLA. I will also never forget how special it felt to sit amongst his family, beaming with pride. It is the Joseph’s of my life that continue to remind me why I became a teacher and for that gift Joseph, I am eternally grateful.

Craft Your Community

Arielle Miller / Build connections / 0 comments

June 25, 2014

Day 17: Wednesday, June 25, 2014:

At the end of the day, we all just want to feel like we belong. Whether we want to be accepted by our lover, colleagues, friends, family, or even strangers we pass on the street—we all just want to feel like we are part of a collective whole.

At our very core, most essential self, human beings are seekers. We are looking for something to fuel our souls, to connect us, empower us, to make us just feel a little less alone.

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful young lady with great hair [this I HAD to tell her], an even better energy, and awesome attitude who has started taking my yoga classes. From our initial meeting, I liked her instantly. Isn’t it funny how certain people walk into your life and there is this connection that speaks to your heart? Well, I am not sure what it was but whatever it was, I felt drawn to her.

We chat.

I learn she’s new to Los Angeles.

She comes to my birthday yoga class (which did not go unnoticed!) then again to class a week later.

This time we get to speak for a more extended period of time and I learn that she Crossfits. Ahhhhh, there’s the connection—we are one of the same. With that, I was getting ready to take the next class and we part ways. I didn’t really think much of her attendance in my classes or our chat until the following message I received later that evening:

Great to get to chat after class today…I just moved to the area about 2 weeks ago and I am sort of in transition feeling out LA. I just thought you should know that the first class I took In LA was your class…having you be my first yoga instructor on my second day in LA, filled me with a lot of positive energy that I REALLY needed that day! Being a colleague in the field of helping others reach their full potential, I understand how nice it is to sometimes be reminded of the impact you are making in other peoples lives by simply showing up and being you…so thank you for that. So you seem like a really awesome person, which are always nice to come across when moving to a new city…

I have said this before, and I will say this again: You never know whose life you are touching just by being you. This made me smile and filled me so fully. Being able to make someone feel welcome and a little less alone is what I think community is really all about. As a race, we crave and long for connection. We thirst for community. For me, being able to facilitate that means the world to me. I take my work as a teacher, blogger, friend, athlete—whatever label you want to assign me, very seriously. I do everything with 100% of my heart and I hold nothing back. I am real, vulnerable, and here for you and everyone else who comes into my life.

We MUST reach out to people with whom we come in contact. We must continue to foster community, build one another up, and support each other. After all, when it’s all said and done we are left with the relationships we build with people in our lives.

Reach out to someone, anyone. Let someone know how much their presence in their life means to you. Give credit. Share in someone’s success. Go to a friend’s birthday party. Meet that friend you keep putting off for coffee.

Don’t wait. Build your community today. After all, this is your world and you are living in it—make it the place you want it to be. Reach out.