About a week ago my frame drum teacher Miranda Rondeau posted a video of her "Dance Challenge - Day 2" in our private Facebook group. I accepted the challenge wholeheartedly. Here is the first of five offerings to come.*

*I decided to be bold on the first day and take the challenge one step further by also making it a "body challenge" in that the attire I wore and specifically chose was an never-before-worn outfit that I would not normally allow myself to wear. This is my attempt at accepting and embracing my body for how it is now, trying to love it just the way it is, and further step into sexy, Goddess femininity. Thus, this is also a practice in vulnerability. <3

Five years ago, today
The Universe spoke to me
Guiding me towards Love
And to fulfill my destiny

How could I know that it was fate?
That through my love for You
I'd discover my Soul Mate
Transcending myself and breaking the molds
Of narrow minded-ness and agreements too old

In our Journey together
There was Magic, light, and dark
Revealing my mysteries, shadows, and deepest parts
Of pleasures, of pains, of dramas and truths...

Once upon a time, I gave myself to You
Yet, what I learned is I could only love Me
More than you and what you wanted me to be

Taken for granted I could bear no more 
I'm glad you found a way to close the door
To the chemistry, to the sex
Now I can officially say you're my "ex"

I own it, now it's true
I don't believe I can ever go back
To settling for less, and settling for lack

That would be de-loving myself
That would offend my Soul Mate
And I love Her, She's Beautiful 
You know Her, She's great

So Thank You, and I love You
For taking that Journey with me
Feeling your love and blessings for eternity
-----------

Written by Mary Ann Martinez
Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 
Started at approx: 2:25pm in San Marino, CA
Completed in Sun Valley, CA
------------------------

At the time of this writing I am currently enrolled in a frame drumming class with Miranda Rondeau for a 6-week, all-female frame drumming course. Miranda is a Goddess of voice and drum. My life has forever been altered, and has returned to source, because of my exposure to her. I have been playing the frame drum for two years now. It is my meditation; my connection to source. It has been my intention to record offerings and offer them to the world however they may be interpreted or felt.  Here is tonight's offering of many to come; free downloads via Soundcloud. I am aware the timing is off, but no worries. 
Much love! 

Here is my first frame drum recording from 2013. The crickets were out. 

Another recording of the same year around the same time as above. 

I'm an emotional Virgo. My moon is in Virgo. The rest is pretty much Leo, and a whole bunch of other signs. I have just been doing some clearing out and rearranging of the Facebook photos and albums. You see, I am finally coming to terms with the break-up of my my long-time partner (a Virgo), my first Love of what could have been 5 years next month. I've thrown out the toothbrush. Earlier today while at work I had set an intention to download and filter through the specific album "...captured moments of our journey together" and delete it. I loved this man hard. He was my first true love. In hindsight, I am a bit frustrated because I know I was done wrong by him in character. Not in a victim type way, but in a taken for granted type sense. So, I am frustrated at myself. Our time together was beautiful. But no more. Going through the photos , downloading the ones of "us" while moving the others to other Facebook albums was freeing. You know, moving on. Naturally, all of this lead to my archives of old videos. I have finally made some "Public," because, well, why not? 

So once upon a time I learned how to play the drums, studied a bit of music for three years, and later became a drum instructor for Parks & Recreation for the City of Los Angeles. There was a piano in the Panorama, CA location I taught at. During all of this time I discovered my love for piano (not keyboard),  because a real piano is percussive, vibrational. At the time of this recording I was single and living on my own; loving the life I created for myself.

So here's me, posted on March 7th. 2009 via Facebook. I am coming around again... single, independent, capable, able, independent, living by myself and loving it, and damn proud I am still embracing, making, and creating music. We all know that #heartbreak makes for good material. Stay tuned for new tunes. <3

After having scored a great deal on a used Hero 3+ GoPro from my local Craigslist I decided to try it out on my first snowboarding day of the season. 

I can remember singing spontaneously since I was about three or four years old. I've always had an expressive way with words, most of it being poetic, lyrical, or in rhyming style. This is a gift I do not force or try to do, it just comes out and my only job is to pay attention and capture/record whatever material presents itself. Here's a recent spontaneous piece that came out after having found my phone. The song explains itself. Free download if you enjoy it. Much love. **ADULT CONTENT - NOT SUITABLE FOR MINORS**

I just finished stretching out my calves and hamstrings, and also admiring my rear, aka my buns, when it hit me - "(Insert a little jingle sound) You have just harnessed your inner runner!"  I haven't been running very long, or very far... yet,... at least I don't think so.  YET, I just finished the Nth best run I've ever had in my life; the first being nearly a few days or so ago. Each run gets better and better 95 percent of the time. Prior to these "best runs of my life" the past year I have been tearing down this old agreement I carried all of my life:" I don't run" and "I hate running."   After snapping my femur in two in 2010 and spending weeks learning how to walk again and 3 years learning how to jog again I wanted to re-write my agreement to: I RUN.  So, here I am four years later running and loving it, and I'm already looking forward to my next run. 

Here are my 4 keys to harnessing your inner runner:

1 -Start the conversation in your head 
First and foremost it starts with desire. There are plenty of options for healthy-safe and suitable forms of physical activity for all persons regardless of ability, period. Swimming, aquatic activities, walking, movement, etc... are just many physical means. Personal health is an individual's choice and individual condition. SO, ask yourself - "Am I able to run for exercise considering my past and present physical conditions and experiences?" If so, where do I picture myself running? Why do I want to run? For me my primary drive for wanting to run is due to the primal instinct of survival. 

2 -Gain Inspiration & Motivation
I placed pictures of women athletes all over my fridge and alter space. I had been feeding myself this positive imagery for several weeks. The final piece to my "I'm a runner" journey was watching THIS Kute Blackson video below.  

BAM! I was it: a runner. In my heart and mind I was convinced of this. Had I hit the pavement yet? No, but I did the next best thing; I went shopping!

3 -Buy Some Running Shoes & clothes that you LOVE!
Searching for a good deal, I unknowingly discovered the perfect running shoe because I am a loving member of The Cylmb.com.  I wore and broke my shoes in first while working. Just wearing them made me think of running and feel like running. Later, I ventured to discount stores and happened to have noticed two pants that caught my eye. I bought them; they inspire me to run. When I wear them.. I already feel like I am that much quicker.. eager to run. I'd take short burst of running here and there feeling my heart. But before I hit the road there was one last thing I had to do......

4 - Make a Soundtrack, i.e. MOTIVATION MUSIC. 
I don't care what kind of media you use and I don't care what kind of music gets you pumped up, but please compile a list of motivational music for yourself. I generally compile a list of songs within the time range I want to exercise for. For example if my goal is to run/jog for 15 minutes then I compile a single playlist with just enough songs to add up to about 15 minutes in duration. That way when the last song ends I know I have completed my mission for the day.

It doesn't matter how long I run or how fast or where, but what matters is that I show up and go. What matters is that at 32 years old I can finally say "I run" and feel great about myself as well as be proud of myself for doing so. And hey, if shit goes down.. well, I've just increased my chance of survival.

Is YOUR inner runner waiting to be called upon? 

There is definitely a captivating desert beauty present in Joshua Tree National Park. My perspective resides in the memory of my very first morning; shortly after waking up at 6:30 a.m. I had climbed atop large boulders just outside of my tent at White Tank campground, and enjoyed a 360 degree view of all that surrounded me. I sat there alone, silent, seemingly the only creature stirring about. There were no sounds other than my own shifts and the gentle rustling breezes. I admired the colors, the air, the natural landscape, my solitude and the changing light from the rising sun. 
  
Throughout the day and throughout my participation in various group activities which included rock climbing/rappelling and playing in a drum circle there was an inherent comfort-ability, pleasantness, and 
noticeable awe of my surroundings. Beautiful rock formations enveloped our camp and the light of fire which danced against the rock was a visual treasure my eyes had never really seen. I was especially appreciative of the night sky. Anytime I see the haze of our Milky Way Galaxy I am humbly reminded of my true essence. I had been told by others that the lands thereabouts of Joshua Tree is an energy vortex. Upon my return I learned there is much much history tied to those lands. Indeed, I felt the place was magically powerful to say the least.  If you have not visited Joshua Tree National Park I highly recommend it, just not in the summer! Visit: http://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm for more information.