Author: Christa Avampato

The short of it: Writer. Health, education, and art advocate. Theater and film producer. Visual artist. Product geek. Proud alumnae of the University of Pennsylvania (BA) and the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia (MBA). Inspired by ancient wisdom & modern tech. Proliferator of goodness. Opener of doors. Friend to animals. Fan of creative work in all its wondrous forms. I use my business skills to create passion projects that build a better world. I’ve been called the happiest New Yorker, and I try hard to live up to that title every day. The long of it: My career has stretched across Capitol Hill, Broadway theatre, education, nonprofit fundraising, health and wellness, and Fortune 500 companies in retail, media, entertainment, technology, and financial services. I’ve been a product developer and product manager, theater manager, strategic consultant, marketer, voice over artist, , teacher, and fundraiser. I use my business and storytelling to support and sustain passion projects that build a better world. In every experience, I’ve used my sense of and respect for elegant design to develop meaningful products, services, programs, and events. While building a business career, I also built a strong portfolio as a journalist, novelist, freelance writer, interviewer, presenter, and public speaker. My writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, PBS.org, Boston.com, Royal Media Partners publications, and The Motley Fool on a wide range of topics including business, technology, science, health, education, culture, and lifestyle. I have also been an invited speaker at SXSW, Teach for America, Avon headquarters, Games for Change, NYU, Columbia University, Hunter College, and the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. The first book in my young adult book series, Emerson Page and Where the Light Enters, was acquired by a publisher and launched in November 2017. I’m currently working on the second book in the series. A recovering multi-tasker, I’m equally at home in front of my Mac, on my yoga mat, walking my rescue dog, Phineas, traveling with a purpose, or practicing the high-art of people watching. I also cut up small bits of paper and put them back together as a collage artist. My company: I’m bringing together all of my business and creative career paths as the Founder of Double or Nothing Media: • I craft products, programs, and projects that make a difference; • I build the business plans that make what I craft financially sustainable; • I tell the stories that matter about the people, places, and products that inspire me. Follow my adventures on Twitter at https://twitter.com/christanyc and Instagram at https://instagram.com/christarosenyc.
change, creativity, dreams

Leap: The Great Remaking of Us

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/lishy64/

“As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

Yesterday someone asked me what situation in the world bothers me the most. My answer rose up immediately – I hate to see people give up on their dreams before they even try to make them come true. It’s an answer with a very personal angle. Prior to my decision to take a leap and work for myself, I epitomized exactly the situation that bothers me the most. If I wanted to see a change in the world, I needed to be that change, too. I had to set the wheels in motion to leap, for myself and for others.

We are our greatest creation. The lives we build are works of art that should be constructed thoughtfully, passionately, and purposefully. We are not depots that accept any and every train that pulls into the station. Our days and the people, places, and events that fill them are choices. Our choices.

Right now I am deeply engaged in the process of transformation. While I’ve been thinking of this time as something special and finite, Gandhi’s quote reminds me that every day we are remaking who we are – physically, mentally, and emotionally. I know that we each have the power to transform the world, but that process begins internally, not externally. We need to embrace personal change before we can generate societal change.

So have a look around. What is it about the world that really bugs you? Now take a look at your own life and see if in some small way the thing in the world that you detest actually resides within you. Root it out. Once you commit to personal change, change will begin to happen all around you. When you take up the act of personal transformation, everyone who comes into contact with you will begin to transform, too. That’s how we start a revolution, a revolution of consciousness. Light it up!

change, charity, community, creativity, peace

Leap: Google Teaches Us How to Create World Peace and Other Circumstances of Goodness

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/sconlon1978/

The New York Times ran a story over the weekend about Google’s efforts to increase mindfulness among its employees. The story, Ok, Google, Take a Deep Breath, featured Chade-Meng Tan (Meng), an engineer at Google and the creator of the Google team course, “Search Inside Yourself.” I clicked the link to watch a sample class on YouTube and I was both disappointed and annoyed.

Meng explains that he wanted to see a dramatic shift in world towards peace. Given the company’s policy to let all employees work on personal areas of research for a certain percentage of their work hours, Meng decided that the best investment of his time would come from figuring out how to generate world peace. It’s an insightful idea. What I hated about it was his conclusion that to get individuals and companies to care about world peace, we have to help them understand what’s in it for them. Meng went on to explain that no one is going to create peace just because it’s a good thing for society. They have to get something out of it on a personal level before they care about peace. We need to tap into people’s individual needs that make the objective of world peace an inevitable by-product. 

Gross.

I hate that conclusion. Is that what we’ve amounted to? A collection of 6 billion bodies who only care about themselves? I stewed on that as I ate my lunch, determined to prove that though Meng may be a very bright engineer, his conclusion on how to bring about peace was unfounded.

I couldn’t. I got more annoyed.

Thankfully, my post from yesterday on the value of having our personal philosophies unsettled was still top of mind. Why did Meng’s conclusion, one that I had a hard time refuting, bother me so much and what could I learn from it? Could I apply it to my own work? Was I already subconsciously already applying it to my own work?

A New York Times column that Thomas Friedman wrote for after 9/11. In it he explained that, “If you don’t visit a bad neighborhood, it will visit you. “ In other words, get out there and do something that’s good for you and good for others. The trick we have to benefit individually as much as we do collectively in order to get community efforts and acts of goodwill to be sustainable.

Environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility really took off when companies realized they could benefit financially and in terms of customer and employee loyalty. In these efforts, the win-win is what tipped the scales. We are beginning to see these same seeds planted in healthcare. Our current healthcare system is no longer sustainable, so we are beginning to see more emphasis on preventative health measures that give people a way to be well before they ever get sick. The same is true in education. We are beginning to see a proliferation of new channels for learning because entrepreneurs realized that they could profit from disrupting the traditional education system.

In all these examples, the answer to the question “what’s in it for me?” came into balance with the answer to the question “why is this good for society?” We need both side of the equation to really make an impact. Thanks, Meng, for stating the cold, hard facts, for not letting us let ourselves off the hook, and for showing us that we can make a positive impact on humanity by truly understanding humanity.

Incidentally, Fast Company ran an article this week with a similar conclusion, stated a little bit more diplomatically. Another solid, if philosophically unsettling, read. 3 Tips for Making an Abstract Idea Relatable to Everyone, Not Just Geeks. 

learning, yoga

Leap: Get Unsettled and Breathe

Christa Avampato
From http://shetakesflight.tumblr.com

“My view is that if your philosophy is not unsettled daily then you are blind to all the universe has to offer.” ~ Neil deGrasse Tyson via DailyGood.org

Are you annoyed? Be thankful for the object of your irritation.

Having a naturally constitution that some describe as “spicy” and “fire-y”, I often find my annoyance barometer rising. At least as my initial reaction. New York presents some hefty challenges in every day living. From just trying to get coffee to getting on the subway to get to work during rush hour, New York can be a relentless button-pusher.It can also be an incredible partner on the path to transformation. This city is Darwin’s perfect test case for his theory of evolution – in this place, we have the grim choice to “change or die”, at least metaphorically. In reality, it’s closer to the idea “adjust or be constantly irritated”. I choose to adjust, and it’s been a blessing to master that skill.

Contrary to some recent research, I don’t believe we can change our natural reactions. It’s a much more efficient use of our energy to change our actions that are caused by our reactions. Recently I’ve deployed a new way of dealing with my initial reactions of irritation. I take the SBNRR train – stop, breathe, notice, reflect, and respond. And though that process seems like it may take more than a split second to execute, we can actually do this in the moment once we consciously and consistently practice it for a short period of time. I’ve found my recent responses to obstacles to be much more graceful and thoughtful than ever before thanks to SBNRR.

The Universe has a lot of knowledge to offer and some of the deepest lessons are served up in moments of great risk and change. Risk and change can feel unsettling at the outset but don’t back down. Soak it up, let it sink in, and then take it for what it’s worth – a great chance to learn and grow.

dreams, evolution, Life

Leap: Tap Into the Miracle of You

Christa Avampato

“When we bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen.” ~ Mark Twain via Women Leading the Future

From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/mcbly/

A miracle gave rise to you.

If we consider the unbelievable fact that all that we are and all that we will become originated in one tiny cell, we cannot help but be in awe of life. The greatest science fiction stories have nothing on the development of the human body. We are what we come from and if each one of us originates from a miracle, then why would we ever think that our lives deserve to be anything less than extraordinary? Harness that miracle of you and spread it far and wide out in the world. It’s what you were born to do.

adventure, courage, literature, yoga

Leap: Finding Our Edge is the Only Work We Have to Do

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/sdl/

“What hurts you, blesses you. Darkness is your candle. Your boundaries are your quest.” ~ Rumi

Yoga asks us to find the balance between effort and ease, to seek our edge without going over it. This is the challenge on the mat and the challenge of our lives. We have to dream big to find that edge. We have to play, experiment, and envision a life without boundaries to open ourselves to our true potential.

We don’t know how far we can go until we set out on the greatest adventure we can imagine. Find those boundaries and then seek to transcend them – this is the only rule for extraordinary living. Everything else is up to us.

art, museum, New York City, science

Leap: Shuttle Enterprise, New York’s Newest Resident, Gets a New Lease on Life

Christa Avampato
On her way home

Yesterday Mom and I saw the Shuttle Enterprise move into her new home by way of the air space outside my apartment. She was a beautiful sight!

After snapping some photos, I wanted to learn more about the plans for her new home on the Intrepid. Over on the Intrepid website for the Shuttle, they’ve cataloged information about the Shuttle’s past, present, and future, complete with futuristic renderings of what they expect the new exhibit to look like later this summer.

If the final frontier gets your heart pumping, head on over and have a look at the site. Though the federal shuttle program has come to an unfortunate end, I’m hopeful that creative exhibits like this will inspire private funders to take up the cause to continue to go where none of us have gone before, to inspire us to seek out new boundaries.

meditation, yoga

Leap: A Call for More Meditation in Yoga Classes

Christa Avampato
Image from silverwitch.tumblr.com

“Why set the stage without having the show?” ~ Alan Finger, Founder of ISHTA Yoga, on the importance of meditation

This week ISHTA Yoga and my teacher, Alan Finger, were featured in the New York Times. The article shed some light on a recent trend at yoga studios – an increase in the demand for and attendance in meditation classes. Considering that yoga is a very physical practice here in the U.S., this recent increase of interest in meditation is causing some many people to rethink the reason we head to the mat.

In India, the birthplace of yoga, the physical and breath practices were a means to an end, and the end was samadhi, or the bliss state, achieved through meditation. The physical and breath practices were used as important components to get the body and mind quiet. In Alan’s words, they set the stage for the main show – the meditation.

This recent uptick in meditation interest has caused me to consider re-formatting my own classes and my personal practice. Maybe more quiet time is needed by all of us, now more than ever. The eye alone use 80% of the body’s sensory energy, so by closing the eyes in meditation we take all of that energy back inside and direct it toward strengthening the mind. It’s a reallocation of our most precious resource. Imagine the possibilities.

I’m excited for the revolution of consciousness that awaits us on the meditation cushion.

change, creativity

Leap: Change in the Air, and My Email In-box

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/therenster/

Universe, I hear you. The theme of change continues to show up in my life on a very regular basis. And my regular I mean hourly.

My Monday post, We Have to Let Go to Be Free, was about the acceptance and release of emotions to generate transformation. At its essence, this idea gets at what it means to change. We fully believe in change; we crave it; we just have a hard time changing ourselves.

Just after my post went live,  I got 3 emails that fell in line with this sentiment of change:

One on the state of French politics: “The situation is so catastrophic that whoever wins it won’t make much difference. The French want change but only on the condition that it doesn’t change anything for them.” ~ Marie-Claude Noel, 72, who said she voted for France’s president, Nicolas Sarkozy, in the first round of presidential election

One from Mary McManus, a lovely yogi and reader of this blog who wrote the following comment on my Monday post: “This was the theme in my yoga classes this weekend. Love the synchronicity. Love how you so eloquently and succinctly wrote about your experience. Detachment and freedom — it’s so amazing when we let go and feel that freedom creating the space for our Spirit to dance and sing our life song. Here is my blog post about the very same theme — enjoy!”

One from DailyGood: “People don’t resist change. They resist being changed!” ~ Peter Senge

The collective message is clear: What we wish to see manifested on a large-scale must first be manifested on a personal scale.

This idea caused me to really think long and hard about the mechanics of change. It comes down to personal responsibility and the willingness to make an internal shift. My friend, Michael, is an incredible example of someone who wants to see a massive shift in the way we live on and care for our planet. He’s passionate about the sustainability movement and has constructed his life to create as small a carbon footprint as possible. His life is about people and experience, not about the accumulation of tangible stuff. His personal dedication to changing himself and his lifestyle inspires me and challenges me to constantly think about my own dedication to change.

What are you willing to change about your own life to bring about a larger societal change? Can you walk the walk?

strengths, stress, time, work, yoga

Leap: Take the Time to Find the Roses

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/casandranvo/

“Make it a habit to rest on the roses and not the thorns.” ~ Rumi via Mona Anand, Senior Teacher at ISHTA Yoga

Over the weekend, our yoga teacher training class was facing a long weekend. It was filled with wonderful learning and we were all very happy to be there, though the challenge of it was palpable. We are now getting deep inside the philosophical and physical layers of advanced postures, breathing techniques, and meditation practices. Like all things worth doing, they take effort.

Mona, one of our wonderful teachers, sensed the weariness in us. In the middle of the practice she brought us to a relaxing posture so that our minds could settle and we could check in with how we were feeling. She asked us to follow Rumi’s advice, seeking to rest on the roses and not the thorns. Too often we focus on the challenge of our circumstances; Mona wanted us to take the time to focus on our ease as well.

Our situation may be difficult but somewhere in the midst of it is a place to recharge and gather our strength. It is our center; it is within us always. In times of trouble, we always have a place to turn. Turn in.

calm, feelings, free, meditation, yoga

Leap: Catch and Release – a Lesson in Breathing and Letting Go

Christa Avampato
From Pinterest member http://pinterest.com/waltonchrissy/

“Why do we work so hard on the (yoga) mat? We concentrate and focus so that we can then let go. It’s why we practice the limbs of yoga. It’s the reason for everything we’re doing here.” ~ Mel Brasier, ISHTA Yoga Senior Teacher

On Sunday, we studied bhastrika, a pranyama (breathing) technique in our yoga teacher training. It requires that we fully let go on the exhale, catch the breath, and then fully engage on the inhale. We need both pieces to feel the full benefits of the technique. It’s challenging because if we don’t catch the breath on the bottom of the exhale, then the inhale happens automatically rather than intentionally.

Mel explained to us that this intention of full concentration and full release mirrors the limbs of yoga that we study. First we focus, through our actions on and off the mat, and then we let it all go. We don’t get cold; we release heat. We can’t try to relax; we release our tension. We can’t draw breath in; we create a vacuum within our bodies that makes room for breath. We can’t try to reach samadhi, or the bliss state; we just allow our concentration to fade and then disappear to create a blank screen.

The difference is subtle but powerful. It’s like riding a bike – we concentrate so hard as we’re learning to balance, then we get it, and then we can let it go to fully enjoy the experience of the ride. We begin by gaining control over our own bodies and minds, and then we understand that control so well that we’re able to let it all fall away so that we’re left completely free. Freedom and bliss are found in that pause between the inhale and exhale when we stand on the very edge of our pure potential. All we need to do is show up and let ourselves be.