As a child growing up in Colorado I remember walking with my aunt and uncle through the streets of old Denver in the autumn. Leaves of bright yellow and orange sat in lovely crunchy piles waiting to be stomped in and I loved every second of it. Aged eight, I tried my hand at poetry to try and describe in detail to my guardians what I was experiencing. The golden leaves of fall inspire budding creative spirits the world over, but in Beijing there are no piles of leaves on the streets.

Pet peeves. We all have them. That one thing that really drives you mad. In Beijing there are plenty of opportunities to find things to bother you. I have been in and out of Beijing since 2007, and I find that the list of things that drive me crazy keeps shrinking! I’ve been able to find acceptance around many of the things that the average everyday expat can’t stand.

Today I’d like to highlight my personal Beijing pet peeve that I doubt will ever go away. The greatest thing about fall is to walk into a pile of crunchy leaves. Why does the city find it necessary to send out flocks of street cleaners in the early hours of the morning to make sure that not one single leaf remains on the ground? Besides their beautiful colors, they add an element of softness and natural beauty to the stark concrete of Beijing. In order to enjoy this softness however you’ll need to get up and out the door by 6:30am. Witnessing the beauty of last night’s fallen leaves means waking up before the bright-orange street cleaners appear. You have 30 minutes to whoop, dance, and kick: They’ll be busy with their brushes from 7am sharp, ensuring the people of the city never see a fallen leaf.

Photos: Courtesy of Theresa Pauline

For the October holiday, we went home for two weeks to celebrate Christmas with my family. That’s right, you read that correctly, Christmas in October. My family spans four continents: North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. This year my sisters, who both live in Uganda and run an NGO, will not be able to go home in December because they are opening a hospital.  Fortunately, we were all able to make the trip in October instead. We wouldn’t have been able to go a year without the tree, the food, and my dad at the piano playing Christmas carols, so we made it happen early and I can report that it was probably one of the best investments we have ever made.

The investment was much more than financial. Spending nearly twenty-four hours traveling door to door, plus the jet lag made the trip a journey. With an 8-month-old in tow the journey was harder then it has ever been before. After landing we spent three to four days recalibrating and Kai didn’t sleep through the night once. To put it lightly, the distance and time took a toll on us all. But despite the hardship of the travel, it was worth every minute.

The time together was priceless. The two weeks at home were more memorable than most trips back simply because we all were so willing to be together. We had never celebrated Christmas in October before and – despite the wear of travel – it worked perfectly. I realize that the time we have here on earth is temporary and every day is precious. Day after day I wake up and see that Kai has changed during the night and this makes it clear that my priority should be to enjoy every second of our time here together. Traveling home to share him solidified our family values, one of the biggest ones being just that – family.

The holiday is one hundred percent about being together and nothing to do with the time of year. My guess is that as our family becomes bigger and more difficult to transport, it will still be worth it. As we wore our Santa hats, sang the songs, and shared the time with each other, the thousands of miles traveled and the dates on the calendar ceased to exist. It was pure bliss. Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!

Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com

Photos: Theresa Pauline

The fall season is in full swing! One of Beijing’s greatest plus points is that there’s always dozens of great events taking place around the city. Here are a few things happening this weekend for you get out and enjoy.

On Saturday, wrap up and take the family on a wander through the hutongs. Stop by Café Zarah for their autumn market. You can grub some yummy BBQ and listen to some chilled-out music. Kids are welcome and fun activities will be provided by "Kid’s Planet Hutong." You can also enjoy some retail therapy with homemade jams, kids clothes and handmade bags.

After the market head to The Breathing Space for a tutorial on building your own small aquaponics system to grow herbs, mini tomatoes, and goldfish! This special event costs RMB 300 and you need to RSVP at https://diy-aquaponic.evenbrite.com.

Make Sunday a health day! If weather permits and the AQI is low, head to this year’s last Yoga in the Park. It’s free! Cross your fingers for some sunshine and calm warm winds so we can enjoy the last traces of summer… or have they passed us already? Only time will tell.

After yoga in the park head to Moka Bros Solana and enjoy 15% off of your lunch. If you still haven’t had your fix of healthy festivities, at 3pm head to Dangdai Moma for C!Talks first event of the season. Four different health specialists share their experience in a number of fields. I’ll be speaking about Ayurveda, other topics include traditional Chinese medicine by Dr. Shelly Ochs, nutrition and fitness by Dr. Sherry Li, and mental, sexual and physical health by Rocky Kai. This event is also free!

Photos: Courtesy of Theresa Pauline

To all the new mothers out there, even if you had your last baby a decade ago, or you are a mother to your cat, goldfish, or bicycle. I have something to tell you: You are gorgeous. You are beautiful and sexy and deeply lovable.

Ever since returning back to work (at a yoga studio) a few months ago, I have been dealing with body image issues, the likes of which I haven’t encountered since I was a child. Trying to fit in and be lovable is something I’ve aspired to since I can remember. A lot of my preoccupation revolved around exterior appearances. My body, my clothes, and what I “do.”

As I have grown into a mature woman this has gradually become easier. I have gotten to know myself better and feel more comfortable in my own skin. I’ve even been able to rock a bikini poolside, knowing that my cellulite is showing. I have found some healing around giving a damn about what others think.

Being a new mother however, has brought a lot of my old insecurities back to the surface. I have bumps and bulges in my midriff where before there were none. I can’t kick into a handstand anymore. I look and feel different. Something about being in Beijing, and especially about being in the yoga room, brings these insecurities up in me even more. My classroom is generally 90 percent filled with young, fit, Chinese women. Based on the way I hear ayis speaking bluntly about people in our yard, I know body judgment isn’t a foreign concept here. I feel judged. I have a pigu (rear-end) that was large before the baby. Now, it’s bigger.

This last weekend after a class I taught, my ego took another hit that sent me and my body-image to a, pardon the pun, bottom. I (briefly) got to the point where I thought the solution was to exist on juice to make it “right sized” i.e. smaller, again. I spent the day wanting to hide in a heap under the covers in my bed. But I was given encouragement by my husband and friends, and that turned me back toward the light.

Whether inside the yoga room or on the streets of Beijing, everyone has insecurities. Perhaps the most beautiful, skinny woman you’ve ever seen is wishing her nose was different or her legs were longer. The best I can do is to shine brightly and rock my curvaceous booty, giving others permission to do the same. The idea that after having a baby my body should be the same as it was before or that I need to scramble to get it there, is unfair. It’s better to treasure the little bump on my belly and feel gratitude for what it brought me: my beautiful little boy.

I need to accept my beautiful body for what it is. Honestly, a wonderful, marvelous body! I can’t be of service to others hiding it under the covers.

So again, to all women out there, mommies or not, you are beautiful no matter your shape. Shine brightly so others can do the same.

Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com

Photos: Courtesy of Theresa Pauline

There are two really good reasons to do a family detox in Beijing and Monday is the best time to do one. Here’s why: One, the family probably ate out all weekend and/ or the parents were out both nights having fun and now it’s time to chill out. Two, it’s an AQI 200+ day.

Ross and I enjoy meatless Monday; a phenomenon that is slowly gaining momentum with the hashtag #meatlessmonday. I have recently tried to push Meatless Monday to include Meatless Tuesday but I was told sweetly by my husband, however not to push it. There is something about spending a day eating fruits and veggies and setting aside the meats and grains which makes the body instantly feel lighter and cleaner. Mini cleanses just eating like this for a day or two can do wonders for the body. Juicing is another great project to add to family mini-cleanses. The last couple weeks, I have been obsessed with juicing. If you don’t have a juicer and would like to get one, they can be bought on Taobao for as little as RMB 200. That being said, I generally find that you get what you pay for. If you plan on processing tougher foods like carrots and kale, you’ll want one with a powerful motor, which will cost you.

Last Wednesday when pollution got high, I loaded up on my fruits and veggies to make a powerful antioxidant juice. Here’s a list of what went in it and each ingredient’s nutritional value:

Orange and lemon (Vitamin C and detoxifying qualities)
Beets (rich in antioxidants)
Carrots (Vitamin K)
Apple (to add some sweetness)
Spinach (loaded with nutrients and power *think Pop-Eye)
Blueberries, rasberries, blackberries (for added deliciousness, antioxidants and pizazz!) Don’t put those berries into the juicer however. Instead blend them up with some water and add them to the juice at the end. They are too expensive to put in the juicer, in my opinion.
Serve over ice and enjoy!

On the days where we need a little extra pick me up, I throw them all in and have a delicious super nutrient packed drink that we can take with us into the day. I generally make enough for two servings each so that before bed we can recharge once again to help immunity rebuild during our night’s rest.

Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com

Photos: Courtesy of Theresa Pauline

Whether it’s sunny or rainy, a visit to the glasses and antique market found at Panjiayuan is always a great idea. If you haven’t been before, this place is really a must for some real Chinese adventure! In particular, there are two parts to Panjiayuan that are worth a visit: the glasses market and the antique market.

Why the glasses market? If you don’t wear glasses, you are still 80 percent likely to leave with a pair. There are so many to choose from and after a few minutes of strolling around with a friend you will inevitably find yourself trying a pair on, turning to your friend and asking, “Do these look good on me?” a question that will be repeated 100 times in the course of the next couple hours. You may even get your eyes checked out, just in case. I actually went four or five years ago after I realized I couldn’t read the subtitles of a movie. (I was clueless to the fact that my eyesight was going a little bit.) I ended up leaving with glasses and the place has been a favorite Beijing go-to spot for me since.

The second stop to check out is across the street and is known in Beijing as the Panjiayuan Antique Market. There are some great finds here. Among them are jewelry, furniture, beads, statues made of bronze and copper, and garments. The last time I visited, I found an amazing man selling what seemed to be real silver. I bought about eight rings to give family members for Christmas.

Both of these spots are relatively stroller friendly. The glasses market has an elevator and the antiques market has walkways throughout big enough for mom and baby. I recommend allotting half a day or so to visit these two spots. They also make a great outing with visiting friends or family. Eat before you go or plan a meal afterwards because there isn’t much around in terms of dining. For extra adventure, take the subway there and for extra-extra adventure go in a rainstorm! This is what we did last time and we still had a great day.

Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com

Photos: Courtesy of Theresa Pauline

I recently had a friend that was in a pretty bad accident on Chunxiu Lu – she was in a rickshaw that flipped over in the rain. She was left in shock and didn’t know who to call or what to do. When accidents like this happen, they serve as a good reminder that we are not invincible, and most importantly, that preparation is key. I’ve compiled some simple suggestions, just in case.

The most important thing is to know where to get help nearby. Take the time to visit the nearest hospital(s) to your home, which are best suited to the needs you might have. Carry the address of the hospital you’d like to go to in both English and Chinese.

It’s also a great idea to carry a copy of your passport. Obviously it doesn’t make sense to always have your passport on you, but there’s no harm in having a copy. God forbid you are in an accident and unconscious or unresponsive, it’s helpful information for anyone helping

In a real medical emergency, know that oftentimes ambulances in Beijing can be slow on arrival, so your best bet may be to find a taxi and make your own way there.

The best thing one can do, of course, is to be prepared in the event of an emergency. Taking a first aid class or learning CPR is a great idea. There are a number of places around town that offer classes. Look into it at your hospital the next time you go to for checkup and see what they have to offer.

Lastly, if you have children, in the event that both you and your partner are in an accident and are unable to take care of your children, have a plan of action set up with friends or neighbors for temporary care. Hopefully, you have someone close enough who would be willing to take care of your kids and make some calls home. 

Remember to have these important emergency numbers saved to your phone:

Ambulance – 120
Fire -119
Police -110
Car Accident –122

Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com

If, like me, you also have a British husband, then I’ve the perfect date idea for you. Regardless of whether you or your special friend is British, still listen up. Tonight in Sanlitun at The Local (one of the final four contenders in this year’s  Burger Cup competition) and tomorrow in Shunyi at The Garage, Redstar Works presents Who’s Line Is It Anyway – a night of laughter with the legendary comic talents from the UK TV show. Book your ayi now to stay home with the kids so you can make it out. 

The show starts at 8:30pm, which gives you and your lucky date a chance to decompress after a day in the office and maybe even grab a bite to eat nearby. Tickets are RMB 300 apiece. Not too bad a price when you consider how far the comedians have travelled to be here.

Reasons To Go:
1. There are two great locations, The Local and The Garage. Really no excuse not to go!
2.  Is there a reason to not go and laugh for a couple of hours? Laughing is super healthy and we all most likely need more of it in our lives.
3. A surprise date night out to see some British comedians can’t be beat.

Though the shows are tonight and tomorrow night, it’s not too late yet. You can get more info and tickets though Redstar Works’ website or pick up your tickets at the door. Rally your friends together and see you at the show!

Tel: Redstar Offices 159 0137 9371
The Garage: 8049 8034
Tickets are also available for purchase at The Garage

Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com

Going through the process of pregnancy, delivery, and early motherhood is challenging for any woman however, the feeling is amplified when you’re far away from “home.” Often times, we new moms may feel scared and alone if we are unfamiliar with the city. The good news is that there is an incredible organization with a variety of support groups available in Beijing called Bumps2Babes. Beijing Bumps2Babes started just over two years ago as a support group for pregnant moms and those with non-mobile babies. The small group of western moms needed an excuse to get out of the house with their babies on a regular basis, meet other moms with children of similar ages, learn from, and support each other. As their babies have grown, and as group members have steadily increased (there are currently over 200 members), there are now several subgroups in the CBD area.

The groups offer a free and easy way to meet other moms as well as to make friends for both mom and baby. Many moms express what a life saver the groups are and how great it is to realize you aren’t the only foreigner with a baby in China. (Crazy, but it’s how we all feel sometimes, right?)

I have been to a few Bumps2Babes gatherings myself and am active in the WeChat group. It has been an invaluable resource on a number of occasions. The morning before we left to the UK recently, Kai was inconsolable between teething and diaper rash, and I was totally freaked out about the long flight ahead with a screaming baby. I messaged the group and received almost a dozen helpful tips. Honestly, this is a lovely group of women.

Each group is organized by a volunteer mom who can decide on location and content. Some groups like to meet up and simply chat over coffee, others prefer to organize topics, speakers, etc. Groups are created on a need basis: usually as the babies grows (2-year-old toddlers can no longer meet in coffee shops, for example, as they need a safe space to explore and be creative), or if a mom would like a coffee morning in her area, etc. Here’s a rundown of current support groups:

Bumps2Babes (B2B): A support group for pregnant moms or those with a baby not yet fully mobile. Meets Friday mornings in Sanlitun.
Babes2Cruisers (B2C): A group for more mobile babies (up to about 18 months old. Meets Friday mornings in Sanlitun.
B2B Toddler Playgroup: A group for the fully mobile 15-30 month age group. This is a full on playgroup with songs, stories, messy play, and anything fun and creative our moms come up with. Meets every Wednesday morning at Beijing City International School’s Early Childhood Center in Shuangjing.
B2B @ weekends: For working moms and dads or those that prefer to meet other families at weekends. Dates and locations vary.
Mondays @ MyGym: For all ages (currently newborns up to about 30 months). Use of the gym facilities and chat over coffee at the MyGym CBD location. RMB 60 per family.
Coffee Mornings: There are regular coffee mornings happening in moms’ homes around the CBD area.

The groups are primarily for English speaking expat moms but dads are welcome to some of the groups.

All groups run independently of each other, however there is a weekly newsletter so anyone interested can attend or contact the relevant group organizers. There are occasionally group offers posted on the newsletters such as mommy makeovers, group buy discounts, etc. Newsletters also advertise any mom/baby related ventures that members are involved with.

If you’re interested in learning more, contact Gemma at beijingbumps2babes@gmail.com

Theresa Pauline is a yoga teacher, social entrepreneur, momma, wife, and beijingkids contributor. You can find out more about her at www.taozitreeyoga.com. 

Photos: Courtesy of Bumps2Babes