Apr 14, 2017 |
Om Swastiastu my yogi friends! That is the way I was greeted in Bali, and it is a beautiful way to say hello and peace and greetings from God! In Bali, Om is the most important sound, and an Om starts every mantra, prayer, and ceremony, and it represents Brahma the Creator or God. I have seen this greeting spelled several ways, but the meaning and intent is always the same and done with the hands in a prayer-like position at the heart.
I’m back in the states now after spending an one incredible week in Bali leading the Shanti, Shanti, Bali yoga retreat and then another week of travel and adventure in Thailand. I’m finally recovered from jet lag, but I’ll never be quite the same after experiencing the rituals and ceremonies, offerings, blessings, purification, and healings that were so graciously shared by these smiling, friendly people.
The Shanti, Shanti, Bali Goddesses!!
I’m grateful to have some time today to sit down, regroup, and process what I experienced and start to sift through the hundreds of pictures I took. It will take me a long time to process it all, so I’m going to share a series of blog post installments over the coming weeks to share the yoga and life experiences that I brought back.
The Mountains
The view from the yoga sanctuary at Bali Floating Leaf Resort overlooked lush green rice fields, a bustling street, distant views of the Indian Ocean and Mount Agung Volcano. It was stunning and impossible to practice without my heart bursting with gratitude. As I looked out at Mount Agung and the other mountains in the distance I was reminded that the Balinese believe that the mountains are the dwelling places of the Gods.
One of the excursion during the retreat was a hike to these waterfalls!
During my morning sadhana as I stood in Tadasana (mountain pose), I closed my eyes and asked, “Is God dwelling inside me? Am I treating my body like a temple?” I stood there for a long time not only to ponder the question but also to allow the Divine to flow into me. I didn’t want to move, it felt incredible and it filled me with gratitude. I have, to be honest here and tell you that this exercise made me realize that I have not been allowing God to take up permanent residency. The Divine is always accessible and I need to let it flow freely, not just when it’s convenient or when I need something.
Being surrounded by the incredible beauty of nature all week while being immersed in the Balinese customs tied to faith, balance, and God, inspired me to set some clear intentions to focus on treating my body more like a temple and to let the Divine continue to flow and reside in me. I encourage you to try this out the next time you get on your yoga mat. Come to Tadasana, close your eyes, and ask if you are honoring the divinity that resides in you. Do you picture yourself as the miracle that you are?
The Purification
The Balinese are very in touch with their bodies, souls, and higher consciousness, and because of that, they know when they need cleansing and purification. One of the things that I loved about Bali Floating Leaf resort is that they immersed my retreat group in the culture and customs of Bali. We learned why offerings are made and how to make them. We learned about purification ceremonies and got to experience a purification ritual at the Holy Spring Tirtha Empul Tampaksiring.
Learning about and making Balinese offerings
I can’t say enough about the staff at Floating Leaf, they washed and massaged our feet when we arrived, learned our names, were always there with a smile and a cold drink, and they deserve a medal of patience for shepherding 18 Yogini Goddesses around all week. As I was writing in my journal about my experiences I realized something really serendipitous had occurred, and that somehow, some way one of the staff always found their way to me just when I needed a profound message or spiritual guidance.
The first instance happened as I was making my way into the pool of holy water for the purification ceremony. I was deep in thought about what I wanted to wash away and my list was long and full of judgment. One of the guides with us named Gusti came up to me and must have sensed the stories playing in my head and said, “Maria, say a prayer to the Gods, and ask them, why am I here.” He went on to explain that the Gods will know what you need to let go of and will wash it away. I just had to ask, believe, and trust. THANK YOU GUSTI! I took his advice and had a truly profound experience and will continue to use this guidance. Now when I come to my yoga mat instead of setting an intention for the practice, I ask my Divine, “Why am I here? How can I serve? How can I love more,” and then I open my heart to trust that the Divine and the universe will know exactly what I need and lead me in the right direction? I’ve been taught this lesson in the past, but sometimes you have to fly across the world and stand in holy water to get the message (you know what they say….when you are ready, the teacher will appear).
I’m quite certain that each one of us took away something spiritually different from the Purification Ceremony, but I can tell you that not one of us wanted to move from the steps in the picture below. There was an incredible beauty and visceral energy at Holy Spring Tirtha Empul Tampaksiring that you could feel in the air, see bubbling up to the surface in the holy water, and I’ll never forget the multitude of dragonflies flying overhead when I stepped out of the water.
The Goddesses after the Purification!
I have so much more to share, so stay tuned for more yoga and life lessons from Bali and Thailand. I’ll be heading back to Bali next March 12-18, 2018 for another Shanti, Shanti, Bali yoga retreat, and would love to have you join us. Click here for more details, or send me a message through the contact page if you have questions or need more info!
Sep 28, 2016 |
Breathe In: May I Exhale Out: Be Happy
Breathe In: May I Exhale Out: Be Healthy
Breathe In: May I Exhale Out: Be Safe
Breathe In: May I Exhale Out: Live in Peace
Ready to change your mood with a tried and true meditation? Find a comfortable seated position, close your eyes, settle into a calm and steady breath, with your inhale breathe in, “May I,” and then exhale out, “Be happy.” Continue that breath pattern with each part of the Loving Kindness mantra – Be Happy, Be Healthy, Be Safe, and Live in Peace. Repeat the mantras for a few minutes, then change the wording on the inhale to, “May They,” and offer the four part blessing to someone you know needs some extra loving kindness. After a while change the words on the inhale to, “May all beings,” and WOW you have taken the blessing from you, to those you love, to spreading Loving Kindness to the whole universe. It feels OMazing.
Don’t you just love the meaning behind these words and the intention and blessing they infuse into your heart and soul as you repeat them? We all just want to be happy and feel loved, but how often do you offer yourself such a blessing? How often do you offer the same blessing to others? There are so many benefits to spreading loving kindness and compassion,
Wouldn’t it be cool to meditate to the Loving Kindness mantra every day? To spend time learning how to nurture and love yourself and then spread that kindness and compassion to others? How about spending a whole week doing just that in a warm tropical beach location in the Caribbean?
Come spend a week with me in the beautiful Mayan Riviera of Mexico this November 6–12, 2016, and immerse yourself in a journey that is all about cultivating loving kindness for yourself. A gift of a week to travel to another part of the world for new adventures, for inward reflection, setting dreams and intentions, enjoying the warmth of sunshine on your face, relaxing on the beach, and practicing inspirational asana flows that will nurture your spirit and feed your soul.
The retreat will be held at the lovely Casa Om that sits across from the beach yet delivers top-deck ocean views and beach-bum relaxation. It is located above the hustle and bustle of Playa del Carmen and Tulum, while retaining the fun and energy of both. Set yourself up in the chilled out rooms, sun-kissed yoga studio and beach deck for a week of vitamin D yoga-it-all-out beach bliss. Watch this video to get a glimpse into the adventures and yoga that await!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-0cxIS6luM [/youtube]
The week’s yoga practices, suitable for all levels, will be infused with my joyous and uplifting teachings, allowing you time for reflection, healing, and transformation. The morning yoga session will be held in either Casa Om’s beautiful yoga room or on the beach deck overlooking the crystal clear blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, practicing to a soundtrack of the soothing sounds of the surf. The afternoons are full of adventures that will immerse you in the Mayan culture, swimming and exploring cenotes, snorkeling with sea turtles, or to just take time to rest, relax, and recharge at the pool or beach. Your day will end with relaxing yoga sessions that include restorative yoga, myofascial release, reiki, meditation, and yoga nidra.
Ready to get your Loving Kindness on? Contact The Travel Yogi to make your reservation, and then grab your passport and pack up your yoga mat and join us for a week of bliss!
Aug 10, 2016 |
“When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” I love these words from Buddha, and they have rung true in my life and yoga journey.
When I needed yoga to heal my back pain caused by scoliosis, I found my teacher in Mary Pat Murphy. I had been told about yoga and its healing benefits for years, but didn’t feel I had enough time for it. When I finally stepped on my mat, it was magical. My body taught me that I needed yoga, and I can’t tell you how fortunate I feel to have found such an awesome first teacher.
A few years later I needed yoga again to heal from adrenal fatigue caused by the stress of my work. My burnt out body and mind was talking to me again, telling me it needed to slow down and to heal, so I purchased an unlimited monthly yoga class-pass. Oh yeah, I desperately needed to get back to a regimen of Daily Downward Dogs, so I dusted off my yoga mat, and took a deep immersion back into my yoga practice. That is what I love about yoga and meditation, you can keep coming back, and it is always there for you.
The day I decided to start researching potential 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training programs, I found one that fit my criteria, but alas, it started the very next day. I’m not kidding, this is a true story, and that little issue with the start date was not going to stop me, because I was ready! I picked up the phone, had a nice long conversation with the teacher, and managed to convince her to accept me into the program. The next day I showed up bright eyed and ready to start my 200-hour YTT journey.
Big Smiles at 200-hour YTT Graduation with Katie Buettner and Joni Howard
Some days I still can’t believe I took that leap of faith from corporate American to becoming a yoga teacher, but then I pinch myself and realize how blessed I am. I get to share yoga, have a job I love and am passionate about, and I never dread Mondays. I’ll forever be a student of yoga, and believe me, the yogis who come to my classes will always teach me more than I can ever teach them.
Teaching a Yoga Workshop in Aruba in 2015
After gaining the experience of teaching over a thousand hours of yoga classes and leading my first few yoga retreats, I decided I was ready to make the committment to learn and grow as a teacher and went in search of a 300-hour YTT program. I had been looking for nearly a year when a fellow yoga teacher friend told me that Mary Pat Murphy was offering a 300-hour program, and it started in just a few weeks. Coincidence? Absolutely not! I was ready, and when you are ready, the teacher will always appear. I got back in touch with Mary Pat Murphy, signed up, and had an incredible year and a half experience of yoga growth. I can’t recommend her 300-YTT program enough.
My teacher Mary Pat Murphy at 300-hour YTT Graduation
Are you ready to try yoga? If the answer is yes, this teacher is ready to help guide you. My next Beginners’ Yoga class series begins October 2 at Yoga Bliss Akron, so come learn the basics with me in a fun, non-threatening environment, with like-minded individuals. Click here for more info about Beginners’ Yoga classes.
Are you ready to learn how to meditate? Check out my FREE guided meditation videos and learn more about how to prepare to meditate on my Hang Ten Meditation page.
Are you ready to take a deeper dive in your yoga journey and share your passion for yoga with others? If the answer is yes, please consider my Healthy, Mind, Body, Soul 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program. This program will begin October 6, 2017 at Sequoia Wellness at the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. I’m also super excited to announce that I will co-teach another 200-hour YTT program with Mary Pat Murphy that will begin on November 10, 2017 at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Health and Fitness Center in New Albany, Ohio (Columbus).
I’m really excited about these programs because when I was called to be a 200-YTT student, I couldn’t do all those handstands and super bendy poses you always see on social media. That didn’t stop me though, because I figured the world needed more teachers who want to reach people who may be intimidated by yoga but always wanted to give it a try, people with injuries or back issues like scoliosis, people who were leading stressful lives who were seeking a kinder, gentler approach to yoga, and people who want their yoga to be more than just a physical exercise, but a way to live their practice off the mat with more love, peace, compassion, and joy in their lives. It’s not so much about touching your toes, but touching your heart, and that is the kind of teaching I strive to share.
If you are ready, not only will one teacher appear, but several teachers! I am honored to say that Mary Pat Murphy E-RYT 500, Dr. Sharon Stills, and Master Reiki practitioner Sarah Greenawalt, will all be guest teachers during the Healthy Mind, Body, Soul 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program, so you will benefit from the incredible energy and knowledge of many teachers.
Graduates of the 2016-17 Healthy Mind, Body, Soul Yoga Teacher Training Program – I’m so proud of them!!
If you are interested, please head over to the Healthy Mind, Body, Soul 200-Yoga Teacher Training page here on the Daily Downward Dog for more information. Applications are now being accepted and you are welcome to call or email me to talk more about the program or with any questions.
When you are ready, the teacher will appear. Open your hearts yogis and be present, your calling, whatever it is, will speak to you when you are ready, and if your heart is truly open to it…the right teacher or yoga retreat will appear.
Jul 8, 2016 |
Sing it with me, “I don’t want to work, I just want to yoga on the beach all day!” Before summer slips away, it’s time to take a well deserved retreat to the beach. If you live in northeast Ohio, Lake Erie has beautiful beaches, and I am blessed to share beach yoga on three of them. If you feel like you need a beach getaway to rest, recharge, and realign with your soul, I’ve got three great options for you!
Just got a day? Take a short drive up to Vermilion, Ohio (just under and hour from most of Akron and Cleveland), and join me for beach yoga and meditation. I have beach yoga classes running through Labor Day (get all the details here), and it is a great excuse to come up to the lake, practice yoga, and then spend the rest of the day hanging out on the beach, or exploring all the great things to do in the Vermilion, Huron, and Sandusky areas. I’ve added a page here on the Daily Downward Dog that has hotels, B&B’s, cottages, and some of my favorite places to visit and things to do up here! Come up for the day, maybe stay the night, and make it a mini-retreat!
September 8 – 10, 2017 at Bay Point Resort in Marblehead, Ohio
Get away for a weekend at the beach in Marblehead, Ohio at the beautiful Bay Point Resort. We’ll practice yoga on the beach, meditate, eat delicious healthy food, and there will be plenty of time each day to relax at the beach or pool, play golf, or perhaps rent a kayak or stand up paddleboard. This is a weekend all about nurturing and learning to take better care of you! Click here for all the details and book your space soon, as space is limited.
What are you waiting for? Come join me on the BEACH for YOGA!
Jun 24, 2016 |
Woo hoo! Summer has arrived and along with it a host of fun outdoor activities (like beach yoga) and so many things to do that yoga, and especially meditation practices can get pushed off the to-do list.
This summer I’ve decided to make a dedication to my meditation practice, and committed to sitting down every day for at least 5 minutes minimum (but, the more the merrier) to meditate. Even if I don’t have time to get on my yoga mat for a practice, I’m still going to meditate every day. I’m calling it my #dedicationtomeditation or #DTM, and all that meditating will make it the Summer of Love.
To make it even more fun and powerful, I’m going to meditate the same way each day, with the same hand mudra and mantra.
The mudra: Vajrapradama Mudra
This is one of my most favorite mudras because it is has super powers. Mudras are yoga poses for the hands and each one holds special significance and power. Vajrapradama Mudra is known for its ability to help release attachment to self-doubt and fear, to remove the obstacles that get in our path and keep us from love. It represents self-confidence, courage, conviction, and inner-strength, and who doesn’t need a little bit more of that in their diet!
To come into the mudra, interlace the tops of the fingers and place them on the chest, with the palms resting on the chest and the thumbs pointing upward. The left hand should be near or over the heart to connect with the heartbeat and the energy coming from the heart space. The hands form a hug around the heart bringing a consciousness there to awaken compassion in the heart and a reminder that we are all one and connected to all that exists.
The Mantra: I Am Love
This is one of my favorite mantras as well. Whenever you put the words “I Am” at the beginning of a statement you are creating what you are and what you want to be. When I say the mantra “I Am Love,” it means I am not fear, I am LOVE. I am not judgmental, I am LOVE. I am not hate; I am full of compassion and LOVE. The vibration of this mantra helps me to stop the stories, the negativity, or whatever is bringing me down and causing the fear, so I can release attachment to it and make room for love.
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER FOR A BEAUTIFUL MEDITATION
1) Find a comfortable seated position.
2) Bring your hands into vajapradama mudra.
3) Start the mantra saying, “I AM,” as you inhale, and “LOVE,” as you exhale.
4) If you mind wanders away, no worries, just release the thought and come back to the breath with the mantra.
5) You may want to set a timer to track your meditation time.
(For more helpful tips about meditation and guided meditation videos, please visit my Hang Ten Meditation page.)
DEDICATION TO MEDITATION
So, who is with me? Are you ready to dedicate yourself to meditation? Just five minutes a day is all it takes. You can dedicate to doing it for 30 days or for the whole summer (through September 21) or for longer than 5 minutes (just don’t attach too many rules to the process, or beat yourself up if you miss a day). I’ve been told that vajrapradama mudra is so powerful that meditating with it for one month can completely change your life.
Let’s make this the Summer of Love, dedicating to five minutes of meditation a day, taking time to give the mind a well deserved break, and at the same time recharging our vibration of love. It is going to be my daily exercise to kick fear and all other obstacles out of my way!
Leave a comment below if you want to join me this summer, and I’ll send you vibrations of love and stay in touch if you like to keep us all motivated. I’ll be posting updates on Facebook and Instagram @dailydownwarddog, so follow me there and use and search for the #dedicationtomeditation and #summeroflove hashtags so we can all stay connected.
