a NOLA girl in a Big world

Today didn’t disappoint & was 100% better than yesterday. A full day of travel yesterday didn’t set the bar too high bar, but today was perfect.

We started out with Gyal Flex, a yoga and meditation movement crushing the London season. I first learned about Gyal Flex, last year while at #BTGDC, when I met Sanchia – 1 part of the 2 woman crew that created the dopest yoga/meditation experience I’ve been to, to date. In the basement of The Book Club, we flowed to the sounds of Kendrick, Erykha Badu & Monica, just to name a few. With the intention of “TAKING UP SPACE,” Sanchia invited us to let go, flow & be our best selves in the moment. The quick, yet challenging flow was just what we needed after 18 hours of travel the day before. It also set us up for our 10 minute meditation. A meditation that ignited my curiosity for adding mediation into my daily practice. Badass lady #2, Holiday Phillips inspired me to embrace meditation for what it truly is, to be present in the moment, however that shows up. My mind wondered, she brought me back. It wondered again, she brought me back. She empowered me to acknowledge my thoughts and bring awareness back to my breathe – however many times i needed to go through that “wondering” cycle. Ending the practice with a gratitude exercise, sealed the (already sold) deal. If you are ever in London – FIND A GYAL FLEX EVENT & SIGN UP.

Post yoga I did what any person would do, head to the nearest lululemon, where Sanchia was recently asked to be an Ambassador. The store is beautiful, in such an amazing part of town. Inside Old Spitalfields Market, they have a bustling market at their door step. Would I would give to have that store front! I bought a thing or two & even educated a few guests, because ya know – once a lemon, always a lemon. New gear in hand, we headed to the Tower of London for our tour.

We met our Yeomen, who shared stories and tales of the 900+ year history of The Tower of London. With to many stories to tell, I will summarize – they executed a bunch of people – 3 of the most famous being women. #theyhateuscausetheyaintus. MY ABSOLUTE FAMOUS PART OF THE TOUR – the Crown Jewels. YALL. The sheer beauty and history that are the Crown Jewels, our in perspective the complexity that is the Monarchy – past, present & future. The Brits love their history, they take pride in their royals & the vibrant history they have provided the world.

Wanna know what else the Brits love – RUGBY. Ya wanna know what WE LOVE – Six Nations Rugby. Bowen & I, fell in love with this tournament 2 years ago while in Ireland. We have continued to follow the Irish team & made the call to skip the typical touristy attractions, find a local pub & cheer on the Irish. We found lamb & flag – a pub in soho. Ireland was playing Scotland, so the number of “fucks” heard through out the match was comical & in the realm of 100+. Ireland won. We cheered, we drank, we made friends & pissed off a new Scots man. It was a perfect afternoon.

Staying true to our authentic London adventure, we went to High Tea at The Wolseley. We ate tea sandwiches, scones and cakes. We drank tea with our pinkies up & sipped champagne.

It was at High Tea where we realized, we FIT IN here. London is like the 2 of us – a conundrum, a mash-up of 2 worlds – old & new, trying to find its place in the world. It’s both fancy & real. It embraces its past, while building into the future. It’s a melting pot of culture, and yet, hasn’t lost its Typical British charm. We might not come home. We might stay. We’ve already started looking at real estate.