- Episode 9
- Skid Row Shelter Staff
Here three staff women of Skid Row share the work they do everyday to help these women, the major problems they deal with and face everyday and what can be done about it. Wow! Amazing what you will learn about this issue. - Episode 9 Download
- [haiku url=”http://estheradler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/9-18JAN2012-SkidRow2CA.mp3″ title=”Skid Row Shelter Staff”]
- Subscribe in Itunes
Hell or Heaven? Skid Row
- Episode 8
- Skid Row Shelter
Here two women from very different backgrounds share how they ended up in skid row and what has changed for them since. Listen how at times we laugh, cry and console one another in one of the most powerful shares yet. - Episode 8 Download
- [haiku url=”http://estheradler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/8-18JAN2012-SkidRowCA.mp3″ title=”Skid Row Shelter”]
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Homelessness Turned To Angel
- Episode 6
- Homelessness Turned To Angel
Before giving my talk and sharing some yoga and movement with the residents of this shelter, two amazing staff members shared with me some insights of shelter life, what causes homelessness and more. - Episode 6 Download
- [haiku url=”http://estheradler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/6-17JAN2012WestLACA.mp3″ title=”Homelessness Turned To Angel”]
- Subscribe in Itunes
Day From Hell?
- Episode 4
- Day From Hell?
- I’m really just venting here, but it’s pretty surreal. I talk about how I met some what I thought was pretty selfish women, wasted my day driving to a shelter with no address and more, then how I turn it around. Hmm. Am I socialist?
- Episode 4 Download
- [haiku url=”http://estheradler.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/4-08JAN2012-MissedShelter.mp3″ title=”Day From Hell”]
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Yoga, Dance, & Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Have you ever wanted to volunteer at a homeless shelter, or make a difference to the elderly but never acted on it? I spent many years teaching senior citizens yoga and movement and watched at how their limp bodies woke up and how their faces lit up to the healing power of the class. I began to wonder if there were other groups of people who can use these gifts but don’t have access to it. A lightbulb went off when I realized the homeless, with their stress level through the roof, their risk of drugs and alcohol to numb their pain is close to 100% is the perfect group of people I can share yoga and movement with. Their probability of ever trying a class is close to zero yet they can benefit from it tremendously.
This idea launched my new project of my yoga/movement shelter tour. I will be traveling the country spreading yoga, fun movement and inspiration in women’s shelters across the country. My goal is to give these women tools to make them feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually better so they can go out, learn new skills and create work for themselves so they can better their lives. These tools will teach them how to deal with stress, depression and help their body cope with everyday tasks of a workload. It’s my labor of love. I’m excited to meet and share with these women what has helped me so much.
In addition to the movement and yoga workshop I’ll be spreading inspiration and giving these women a voice on my new podcast called VOICES OF WOMEN, where I’ll be giving women from all over the globe a chance to have a real voice in the world. I’ll be starting with our homeless women, where I’ll invite them if they choose to be on my podcast, which I’ll tape live at the shelter and have them share whatever is on their mind.
I’m so excited about this because one thing that has carried me around for many years growing up and early in my awakening is the feeling that I’m unheard, invisible and not really cared about in anyway. I thought if only people really heard me, then maybe I can make some real changes in my life and the lives of those around me.
I realized I’m probably not the only person who has felt like that and so now I want to give a chance to those women to be heard.
Please share your thoughts on this project.
Much love,
Wow! What A Journey
The only constant in life is change. When you think about it, can you remember all the details of your life from just a week ago? So much happens and so quickly. Life is truly fleeting. When I think about the journey I’ve been on the last few years I’m in awe at the perfection. When you are in middle of the journey it’s hard to see where the road will take you, even if you have your GPS on and we many times come to conclusions that are far from reality.
Most of my favorite trips were those that had unplanned destinations. It was when I stayed open to the destination or the road that would take me there that created the most incredible outcomes.
A year and a half ago I moved across the country from New Jersey to California. It was by far the most unexpected move. I never in a million years would’ve thought I’d even consider moving so far from everything I know, my family and the familiarity of my life. Moving to California presented a long journey of changes, bumps and unexpected curves. The incredible thing is looking back on that road a year and a half later.
After years of working on my book back East, I finally finished the 12 year journey. The book was just released this week as well as the other gifts I’ve started to share with the world. I struggled as an actor in NYC as well. Once I released how things should occur and what they should look like an inspiration showed up in the form of an idea, and the creation of my One Woman Show began. Wow! Who would’ve thought? How weird is that? The capital of the theater and publishing world in New York was my home for 17 years and I accomplished both a major writing and theater project in quite, suburbia Orange County California. What this tells me is you can do anything at anytime, in any place. Just stay open to the road. You don’t need to take the road everyone else travels on. The road less traveled is not only more adventurous but you might find more treasures at your destination.
I love fall. It’s my favorite season because to me not only is it breathtaking but it reminds me of change. Although the leaves are dying, they fall off the trees with grace and beauty, providing nutrients to the ground below them. There’s no real death, just change.
The same is true to our life. Moving to California was difficult at first. But by adding grace, lightness and freedom to the experience miracles began to pour my way.
If you’re going through a rough patch in your journey of life look for the adventures in the road rather then the obstacles. You’ll be amazed as to where your journey will take you.
