Category Archives: Get it off Your Chest

Bad Yoga

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Taryn Wong| Leave a comment

Not all yoga is created equally and with that said not all yoga is zen, peaceful, and relaxing.  After spending most of my downward facing dogs at my favorite yoga studio Aloha Yoga Kula and getting excellent instruction from my favorite teachers Brigitte, Martin, and Leah, when I go elsewhere I sometimes find bad yoga. 

So what is bad yoga? Well, the “Taryn definition” of bad yoga is any yoga that feels uncomfortable, painful, dis-jointed, and where the instructor is difficult to follow, has you doing unrealistic poses without guiding you through them, and you leave the classroom feeling worst off them when you went in. 

So, I woke up this morning and my body is hurting from a bad yoga class I took yesterday.  I guess I blame myself for not going to Aloha Yoga Kula, but I figured I might try and save a couple bucks and do some “gym yoga.”

If my fellow yogis know what I’m referring to when I say bad yoga then we must boycott all the crappy yoga out there.  Instructors need to raise their yoga standards and really remember what practicing yoga is all about. 

To me, when yoga teachers focus on the exercise and physical aspect of their class and forget about the holistic approach the class becomes flat and awkward.  Chatarungas are not push ups, and you should not do 5 standing poses in a row in less than 30 seconds. 

Wikipedia refers to yoga as a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline or the goal of yoga or of the person practicing yoga, as the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on the Hindu concept of divinity or Brahman.   

I thank you Brigitte and the rest of the Aloha Yoga Kula family for practicing safe and healthy yoga.  I am grateful for the knowledge that you have given me on my form, mental awareness, and the gift of yoga.  I now recognize the difference in yoga as a lifestyle and simply a yoga class.    

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Posted in Get it off Your Chest

Groms That Surf North Shore

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Taryn Wong| Leave a comment
Most of the time when I surf at Velzyland I sit more in the inside and catch the smaller easier waves and leave the death barrels to the pros.  The surfers in my area are typically 8-10 year groms, maybe younger.  It blows my mind that these tiny kids are so fearless, competitive, and so frickin good. 
 
So what the heck is a “grom?” The term grom or grommet isn’t a beginner surfer, but a younger surfer, usually under the age of 15. And most of the time kids that are called groms rip, aka surf way better than I do. 
 
I was out yesterday at Vland and saw a dad pushing his little grom into the set waves (over head death barrels), and this kid could not have been more than 6 years old! He looked invincible, had a smile on his face, made the drop, held the line, and came back wanting more! Impressively scary!! Would I push my 5 year old into waves I wouldn’t even drop in on?
 
These groms like to taunt me in the surf, do circles around me, and take all my waves.  They make me feel like an out of shape old lady.  These kids never tire out, and when I do steal a wave from them I feel so stoked until 30 seconds pass and another kid comes in and gets a quick barrel right in front of me.  I can’t wait to see what these groms will be doing when they turn 15.

photo courtesy of freesurfmagazine.com, Moore at 14 when she was the first girl to win the "King of the Groms" at Kewalos

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Posted in Get it off Your Chest

Waimanalo Puppy Mill Update

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Taryn Wong| Leave a comment

I wanted to share this Hawaiian Humane Society update with my readers.  It pains me to think that breeders can get away with this type of thing.  Everyone needs to be aware that puppy mills and animal cruelty DO exist here in Hawaii.  With awareness, new legislation, and community action we can make a difference.

See these videos and the information below via the HHS.

End Puppy Mills

Waimanalo Puppy Mill Footage

Big Island Puppy Farm Owners Connected to Waimanalo Animal Cruelty Case

 

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Posted in Get it off Your Chest

Ladies, its time to clean out your closets with Closet Trader

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Taryn Wong| Leave a comment

Ladies, it’s time to clean out your closets!  I know you have a ton of rocking clothes only worn once or with the tags on that are cluttering up your closet.   Closet Trader is Hawaii’s newest online answer to for all those unwanted items.  Sign up online today for free and trade, buy, or make an offer on other members’ closets.   

For more information, Read the full story via Aloha Update.

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Posted in Get it off Your Chest

Adopt, Don’t Shop: The Hawaiian Humane Society

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Taryn Wong| 1 Comment

I have a very soft spot in my heart for animals, especially dogs and any chance I get I try and give back to the community and to my favorite non-profit organization the Hawaiian Humane Society by fundraising, pet visitation, or fostering dogs. 

With the generous support of the community, HHS is able to help thousands of animals a year in lost and found, adoption, rescuing and protecting pets, spay and neutering, foster care, and much more.  According to last year’s annual report (July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011), HHS saw a 17% increase in adoptions with a total of 6,734 cats, dogs, and small animals.  Additional, 3,225 pets were reunited with their owners and 30,186 animals were given shelter and care. 

The HHS also helps promote and practice sterilization and in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu for the Neuter Now Program and last year 10,496 sterilizations were documented.    

The HHS is the only lost and found animal shelter on Oahu and is 100% funded by private and local donations.  It costs $16,000 a day for the HHS to keep their doors open for one day.  Whether it’s monetary or volunteering, the HHS is always in need of help. 

I recently visited the HHS and met with Bonnie Osaki and Jacque LeBlanc for a behind the scenes tour, got updated on the facility, and gathered information to pass along to the community.  Bonnie and Jacque are two of the many employees that work for HHS that love animals and strongly believe in the shelter’s mission, people for animals-animals for people.

After meeting with Bonnie and Jacque I felt that the best message I could give to the community was best put by Keoni Vaughn HHS Director of Operations, “adopt, don’t shop.” The community needs to be aware of the growing number of healthy, well behaved animals at shelters that are in dire need of a loving home. 

There are many benefits of adoption from a shelter like the HHS.  All animals available for adoption have had a medical and behavioral screening, pets are spayed or neutered, dental cleanings are now conducted, and adoption fees are astronomically lower than what you would pay when you buy a pet from a pet store.  HHS even has adoption counselors that you can meet with when you are adopting an animal, and they will see if the pet is a right fit for you and your family. 

The HHS is continueously impacting the community positively, for example with the recent Waimanalo puppy mill bust in February where 230 dogs were taken into HHS custody and care.  The cost of care for these animals totaled more than $450,000.  Thanks to donors and fostercare volunteers hundreds of dogs were removed from horrible living conditions and their lives were saved. 

Let’s make sure that HHS can continue to do all they can for Oahu’s animals in need and if you can give a contribution or any of your time please contact HHS.  Also, if you are looking for a new furry addition to your family, please highly consider adoption.  If you have any doubts, come down to the shelter and see all the adorable animals available for adoption from puppies, purebreds, poi dogs, kittens, and much more.   

   

 

 

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Posted in Around Town, Get it off Your Chest

Review of Reef Fanning Sandals

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Taryn Wong| Leave a comment

Steve recently picked up some Reef Fanning sandals at Nordstrom Rack, and after checking them out I really wanted to write a review.  These sandals are super comfortable, light weight, come with a built in bottle opener, and even have photos of hot chicks in thongs on the bottom soles. 

Check out the full review via Aloha Update. 

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Posted in Get it off Your Chest, Raves

Things That Make Me Go Hmmm…

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Taryn Wong| Leave a comment

I guess I have a wack sense of humor and notice strange things and people sometimes.  Here are a few things that make me go hmmmm… Sorry if I offend anyone, well no I’m not really too sorry :-)

 

 

  • The crowd at JJ Dolan’s.  No where in Hawaii except for JJ Dolan’s will you find Oregon-Teva wearing-hippies, Polynesian mokes, 45 year old bald men, and the Asian nation clubbing crowd elbow n elbow.  The pizza here is that good and JJ’s can’t keep any genre away.  I swear, take a look next time you go there!  
  • Guys (and gals) that blast their car stereos so loud with their windows rolled down so everyone around can hear.  Unless their deaf, how can anyone enjoy listening to music that loud?! I don’t and I’m sure others around do not enjoy listening to other people’s blasting, bass-ing, crappy music.  Please roll up your windows!
  • People who double bag all their groceries. This is one of my pet peeves and if you want your entire cart full of groceries doubled bagged because you think your toilet paper will break the bag, then maybe you should invest in some reusable shopping bags or be charged for plastic bags and the labor it takes for all that work.  It’s not cool for the environment or the long line of people waiting behind you. What do you do with all those extra bags when you get home, make pillows?
  • Hostess Bars. I know I’m off on a tangent, but this industry blows my mind! It amazes me that some women are able to make a living off of being hostess girls and amazes me even more that guys throw away their money helping these women do so!     

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Posted in Around Town, Get it off Your Chest

Seeing 20/15

Posted on September 18, 2011 by Taryn Wong| Leave a comment

After years of wanting, researching, waiting, and saving my money I finally got LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery.  I wore glasses and contacts for the past 15 years and was a slave to assisted sight. All that changed a few days ago after my lasik surgery and now I am seeing not a perfect 20/20, but an even better 20/15. Lasik is definitely going to be life changing for me and I can’t wait to continue to enjoy my freedom from contacts and glasses!

 

If you’re interested in getting LASIK in Hawaii here are a few tips and things to know…

  • Get your corneas measured.  This is the make or break if you are a candidate for lasik.  If you’re corneas are too thin you will not be able to get lasik eye surgery.  The test is painless, very simple, and takes two seconds, but your eye doctor needs to have the special machine.
  • LASIK is expensive.  Lasik can cost between $2,000 to $5,000 depending on the eye surgeon and lasik machine and none of it is covered by insurance (except for prescription eye drops). I opted for the custom, high quality lasik and it was on the higher end.  If you have healthy eyes that are pretty straight forward I don’t think it matters too much where you go. The lower end procedures can be just effected, but kind of like an inexpensive meal, it gets the job done, but you get what you pay for. 
  • Best Eye Surgeon on the island is Dr. Tyrie Jenkins. I didn’t want to mess around and went with Dr. Jenkins who has a long impressive list of credentials and has done over 10,000 laser refractive surgeries. My experience with her and her office staff was first class, and I would absolutely recommend her for surgery or regular eye care. 
  • Dr. Alan Faulkner and the Aloha Laser Vision Center has the best machine on the island. In researching, I learned that the machine is the most important component and Dr. Faulkner uses the IntraLase® FS laser, the most progressive machine on the island.  Dr. Jenkins shares the Dr. Faulkner’s machine, so I was happy to have the best surgeon and the best machine.      
  • If you wear contacts be prepared to wear your glasses 2 weeks to 1 month before surgery. Contacts change the shape of your eyes, so you must be without contacts for a length of time before your surgery to get an accurate mapping of your eye for the surgery. 
  • The surgery takes only about 5 minutes. After years of planning and anticipation of the my surgery, I was at the surgery center for about 30 minutes total and the actual surgery took only about 5 minutes.  I was blown away how fast it was. 
  • One night downtime. After the surgery for about 1 hour I had discomfort and slight burning in my eyes, but after a valium and a good night’s rest I was up and about the next day enjoying my new vision.  The next day I was able to resume my normal activities like driving, etc. and the only set back seemed to be taking all my eye drops multiple times a day. 
  • No surfing for minimum a week post-op. Bummers for me, but no watersports for atleast a week after my surgery.  At my one week post-op appointment I hopefully will be getting the green light that everything healed up nicely and I can get back in the water!  

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Posted in Around Town, Get it off Your Chest, Raves

Where Did All the Opihi Go?

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Taryn Wong| Leave a comment

On a recent trip to Molokai we found opihi amongst the rocks of the remote beaches we explored. I was gladly surprised to see an abundance of opihi and thought what a rarity it was to be in the presence of this over harvested limpet. 

On Oahu, you can’t really find opihi anymore on the beach or even in a store to buy. Opihi picking has become a rare and dangerous task since the only living opihi are found off remote cliffs.  The Nature Conservancy is currently supporting efforts and working with Hawaiian cultural practitioners, scientists, local communities, resource managers, and government agencies to help restore and protect the Hawaiian opihi populations.  These groups will collect data, educate, and help manage the opihi.

When researching this article I came across an interesting company online called Opihi 4 Sale.  This business was started by a man named Patrick Murphy from Kauai who visited Ireland and discovered yellow foot opihi there.  In 2004 he left Kauai with his sons and started Emerald Island Opihi Company and began selling fresh frozen North Atlantic Opihi to the world ever since. I was surprised to think that opihi is found in Ireland clear across the world from us, but glad to hear there is an alternative for those looking to satisfy their opihi craving without causing our populations to go extinct.    

There are three difference species of opihi that live Hawaii. 

Opihi Makaiauli: (Cellana exarata) want to be splashed, and don’t mind being dry between tides. The low ribs of their shells are dark and their troughs light. They grow to about two inches across.

 Opihi Alinalina: (Cellana sandwichensis) crave constant splash or surge and can’t tolerate drying out for long periods. Their shells grow to about 2 and a half inches across and have a scalloped edge that was used by Hawaiians for shredding coconut meat.

Opihi Koele: (Cellana talcosa) are sometimes submerged and can live in depths of up to 10 feet. Koele are the largest of Hawaiian opihi, growing up to four inches across. Their shells are smooth and thick with a low profile.

 

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Posted in Get it off Your Chest, Island Hopping

Holy F***ing South Swell!

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Taryn Wong| Leave a comment

August 30, 2011, town shore are 5-7+ foot (Hawaiian scale)!  So, the surf forecasters got it right this time and actually almost under-called this humongous south swell that is smacking down as we speak. I got beat down yesterday when I went to Concessions and Big Rights by the solid 4 and 5 foot sets that came through. I managed to live through the session with a little bit of water up my nose, a couple bruises on my leg, and a super sore body.   

Chelsea's Iphone photo of Kewalos 8/30/2011

A few of my friends and I (and most sane surfers) decided to sit today out and probably will tomorrow too, so we don’t snap our surfboards or our necks.  We are brainstorming the perfect, safe, inside break that might be surfable tomorrow, but fat chance because the swell is forecasted to get just a tad bigger tomorrow.  Hats off to the pros out surfing the today and tomorrow, get barreled!

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Posted in Around Town, Get it off Your Chest