Aug 27, 2014 |
Woo Hoo…we are going to yoga and standup paddle board our ways right into September this Labor Day weekend!
Please plan to join me this coming Saturday, August 30, at Firefly Beach in Huron for beach yoga and meditation at 8:30 AM followed by back-to-back standup paddle board sessions.
After all this paddle boarding fun you may think that I’ll start to get sad that the summer and beach yoga season is coming to an end, but that is not the case because I’m already dancing on my yoga mat and singing along with Earth, Wind, and Fire as I dream about “September.”
[youtube]http://youtu.be/Gs069dndIYk[/youtube]
Ba de ya – say do you remember
Ba de ya – dancing in September
Ba de ya – never was a cloudy day
Oh yeah, this is definitely my yoga theme song as we roll into Labor Day and September. I’ve got so much to look forward to and I’m going to keep on believing that September will never bring a cloudy day.
The regular beach yoga class schedule runs through Labor Day, and I’m excited to announce that there will be a modified schedule through September! If you bought a class pass and have classes left you can use them in September and I plan to be around Vermilion for Saturday classes throughout the Fall and Winter months too.
Here is the run down of September:
Join me for LABOR DAY Beach Yoga at Main Street Beach in Vermilion (behind the former Inland Seas Museum) at 8:30 AM!
Double the fun Sunset Beach Yoga/Full Moon Beach Yoga Bliss on Tuesday, September 9! There will be a sunset beach yoga class at Linwood Beach from 7:00 – 8:00 PM and then at 8:15 PM we will roll right into a special FULL MOON Beach yoga class! Each class is $10, but if you come for the Sunset Class you can stay for the Full Moon class at no extra charge! Together we’ll enjoy the beauty of the sun setting over Lake Erie, tap into the energy of the full moon, set some full moon intentions, meditate, and do some yoga mat dancing in the moonlight!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
The Kelleys Island Beach Yoga & Wellness Retreat is coming up September 11-14! Join us for the day or the whole weekend of yoga and wellness activities. Click here for more info.
AND…here is a modified beach yoga schedule for SEPTEMBER!!
Tuesday nights at Linwood Beach at 7:00 PM (the class on September 2 will start at 7:30 PM and the remainder of the Tuesdays will start at 7:00 PM): September 2 (7:30), September 9, 16, and 23.
Wednesday mornings at Main Street Beach in Vermilion at 8:30 AM: September 3, 10, 17, 24
Wednesday night Sunset Beach Yoga at Firefly Beach in Huron: 7:00 PM on September 3, 10, 17, and 24
Saturdays at Firefly Beach in Huron: 9:30 AM on September 20 and 27
I’ll be posting details about October Beach Yoga and Fall/Winter classes coming soon!
I hope to see you this week and as we dance and yoga into the beautiful month of September! Woo Hoo!
Jul 30, 2014 |
I have to say that this summer of beach yoga has been filled with some pretty magical and funny moments so far, and I’ve got some pretty great stories to tell and weave into my yoga class themes. So far a few surprises include finding this beautiful heart of flowers right in the middle of my beach yoga studio one morning, getting mooned by a Firefly Beach camper, and practicing yoga with gale force-like wind and waves at Linwood Beach during my first full moon beach yoga class. I’ll take whatever Mother Nature brings and even though the storms and cooler temps have been plentiful, the peaceful sound of the rain, birds chirping, and view from the Firefly Beach pavilion has been quite blissful for the dedicated yogis who always show up on their mats.
Here are a few more magical moments I’d like to share.
The Shore Thing
I woke up one morning in a bit of a rush to get dressed and off to teach beach yoga. As I opened my closet, a t-shirt I had not worn all summer just kind of jumped out at me, and I put it on. It’s emblazoned with Shore Thing, the name of a business located on Main Street Beach in Vermilion that rents beach chairs, sells snacks, and provides awesome tourist information to visitors. I hadn’t seen Jennie McClendon, one of the owners of this business all summer, but I wanted to wear the shirt that morning so I could give Shore Thing a shout-out during my class that morning. 
I walked up to greet the class – and who is there to meet me but Jennie! Believe me when I tell you that this meeting was not an accident. We are all connected and send out our energy with our thoughts and actions, and Jennie and I had one awesome karmic connection going on that morning.
I loved getting this reminder to send good thoughts out into the universe because what you put out there is what you attract. Those negative thoughts will surely reach the recipient – so make sure you are sending out good energy!
Jennie also brought her incredible crystal singing bowl, and we had some pretty yogalicious Oms in class that morning as a result. Thank you, Jennie, for carrying that heavy bowl to the beach and for being an awesome brand ambassador for the City of Vermilion.
Be Here Now
It always bums me out when people start saying summer is over right after the 4th of July, and guess who turned into one of those people last week? When I started fretting about the fact that half of my summer beach yoga schedule was nearly over, I quickly gave myself a quick kick in the assana and remembered to find peace and joy in this moment and stop worrying about the future. I plopped down on my meditation cushion and started meditating with the mantra “Be Here Now,” and it turned out to be really powerful. Try it out next time you meditate. Breathe in and say, “Be here,” and on the exhale say, “Now.” As you say the word “now,” let the peaceful feeling that comes when you savor the present moment soak into your heart. I hope it has the same effect on you as it did for me and brings you a feeling of complete joy.
I’m not trying to glorify being busy, but I will say that the summer is one of my busiest times of the year. The “Be Here Now” mantra has become one of my best coping mechanisms and reminds me to take it one day at a time, to practice being present, and to savor each and every moment of summer.
Ommmmm
I’ve had some pretty special experiences when chanting om, but there is something about an outdoors om that can’t be beat. This summer I’ve gotten to enjoy oms that rolled along with the sound of the wind, surfed along the top of the waves, and even a few that harmonized with the sound of the trains that are constantly rolling through Vermilion.
Last week on a cloudy day right as I closed out the Main Street beach yoga class with a shared om, as if on cue, the sun started to peek out and shined its light on us, and birds started to chirp along. I was filled with an overwhelming sense of peace in my heart. One word: omalicious!
Super Full Moon
What’s better than beach yoga? Doing yoga on the beach while the sun is setting and the moon is rising with a huge group of fellow yogis! The super full moon on July 12 was a very special night on Main Street Beach in Vermilion, and I want to send out a huge hug to all the yogis who showed up. I’ll do it again on August 10 and September 9 – so come on out and do a little yoga mat dancing in the moonlight with me this summer! The next two full moon yoga classes will be held at Linwood Beach.
SUPYoga
I love first times, and this summer I got to teach my very first stand-up paddleboard yoga class (SUP Yoga) to an awesome group of yogis. The weather was calling for rain, but it ended up being a perfect day with nice calm Lake Erie water. You better believe there were some victorious woo-hoos when we all got into downward dog on the boards and did our first sun salutations SUP style!
Big thanks to Jim Lawhead of Lake Erie Paddler for bringing the boards. We had so much fun that we will be doing it again soon and I will post the dates as soon as they are finalized.
If you have not made it up to Vermilion yet, plan a little road trip to head up for a beach yoga class take some time to explore this small city on a great lake with all its shops and restaurants. There’s still a lot more summer left, and I can’t wait to see what else this summer and the universe has to bring. The Kelleys Island Yoga and Wellness Retreat is scheduled for September 11-14, and I may even extend some of my beach yoga classes beyond that into September and October.
Woo Hoo – I feel so blessed to get to do what I do! Thank you universe!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Jul 19, 2014 |
I’ll be the first one to admit that I am a total geek, and today I not only proved my geekdom but spread a little joy while doing so at Angel Nails in Vermilion. I woke up to gray skies and rain this Saturday morning, but that did not stop me from having a peaceful yoga class under the pavilion at Firefly Beach with the sound of the rain and birds chirping (yes, even if it rains I still have class at Firefly Beach!). After class I decided to pamper myself and get a much-needed pedicure.
My standard MO is to pick a very neutral color of toenail polish because: a) I don’t want to be too flashy, and b) when it starts to peel it won’t be as noticeable until I can get another pedicure. But today as I went to pick out my color I was feeling sparkly. Yes, sparkly! I’ve just been brimming with lots of joy this summer and I decided my toenails needed to follow suit with some glitter. I went through all the polishes with sparkle and gravitated toward one that was the color of the sunset. Fittingly, the name of the polish was Lunar Beach!
I zoned out during my pedicure and let myself relax, and when it was finished and I looked down at my toes, I gasped in delight! I’ve never seen my toenails shine with glitter before, and the view made me absolutely giddy. I jumped up and started going around the shop showing off my fun, glittery toenails to everyone. When something gives you joy, you just gotta share it – even if it causes you to wave your geek flag high.
Toe Selfie!!
In fact, if you run into me this week, it is highly likely that I will point out my awesome new pedi. And this week I’m going to be smiling every time I touch my toes in uttanasana.
I’m happy to report that after my toenail dance around the shop that two other women switched their pedi color to Lunar Beach. Apparently joy (and orange glitter nail polish) is contagious!
I’ve been sharing this lesson in my yoga classes this week. All of the energy we emit is contagious, so make sure you are shining out glittery energy and none of that negative energy stuff.
It’s fun to break out of the routine, try something new, be playful, put on some glitter, and spread happiness! Give it a try today and share some sparkly joy!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Jul 11, 2014 |
Woo hoo – the beach yoga in Vermilion and Huron has been a blast this summer and I’m sending out big hugs to everyone who has shown up to practice with me on the lovely shores of Lake Erie. Summer is heating up and so are the activities at beach yoga! Check out all the latest updates below!
FULL MOON YOGA
This Saturday there will be a full moon – but not just any full moon. This one is being touted as a SUPER full moon, aptly named because it is going to be the night of my first Full Moon Yoga class on Main Street Beach in Vermilion!
The reason for the SUPER moniker is due to the fact that this full moon is not only the closest and largest full moon of this year, but it also will be the moon’s closest encounter with earth for all of 2014!
Please join me and tap into the power and energy of this super full moon and align with the natural rhythms of the season. It is said that the full moon is a time that brings closure to things that no longer serve us, enabling us to set intentions and dreams to nourish us in the days to come.
We’ll enjoy rhythmic and empowering moon salutations; nurture our bodies, minds, and souls; balance our energies; and awaken our creativity and intuition as we flow through asanas in the divine light of this super full moon. There will be time at the end of class for meditation, setting intentions, and sending dreams out into the universe. The Super Full Moon class will start at 8:30 PM and is an all-levels-welcome class. Mother nature is providing a double treat Saturday night – you’ll get to see the sunset over Lake Erie and then watch as the moon start to brighten.
The Full Moon over Linwood Park last summer at beach yoga – thanks Alison Harris Jaggers for sharing this photo!
What to Bring: I’ll have sheets down on the beach to protect your yoga mat or towel, but I’m expecting a big turnout, so bring along an extra sheet if you can. You may want to bring an extra layer of clothing or a blanket to cover up with during savasana and meditation, and you might also want to have some buy spray on hand.
Cost: This is a free class. Donations are welcome!
Location: Main Street Beach is located at the end of Main Street in downtown Vermilion. Class will be held right on the beach. There is parking along Main Street.
Class will be cancelled in the event of rain. I’ll post updates on the Daily Downward Dog Facebook page if the weather is questionable.
Can’t make it this Saturday? There will be full moon beach yoga class on
August 10 and September 9 too at Linwood Beach in Vermilion!
SUP YOGA
Jim Lawhead of Lake Erie Paddler is bringing 8 stand-up paddle boards to beach yoga at Firefly Beach on Sunday, July 13 and July 20. Sign up now if you want to learn how to paddle board and have a standup paddleboard yoga session with me.
Paddle Board Lesson
10:00 – 11:30 AM on July 13 and 20
$30 – 90 Minutes
Paddle Board Lesson is taught by experienced certified Paddle Board instructor from Lake Erie Paddler.Paddle Board Lesson is comprised of the following:
- 15-minute beach tutorial on paddling techniques, footwork, balance, and safety
- 30-45 minute on-water instructor guided coaching to ensure each student success
- 30-45 minute self-guided free paddle with instructor
- Elective SUP Yoga instruction by Maria
Included in Paddle Board Lesson is rental of premium paddle board, paddle, leash, and PFD/Life Jacket.
RESERVE YOUR BOARD NOW – SPACE is Limited. For more information and to register online go to:
http://alohasupoh.com/products/sup-lesson-firefly-beach-huron
MASSAGE
Starting July 12, Ayden Ash will be at Firefly Beach every Saturday and Sunday morning to give Relaxation Massages. Ayden is certified as an Ethical Massage Practitioner and will be at Firefly at 7:30 AM for massages before class or after class. $1 a minute up to 15 minutes, $25 for a half an hour, and $40 for a full hour. First come, first served or you can contact Ayden at aydenanthonyash at gmail.com to book in advance.
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Jun 30, 2014 |
MC Yogi’s Mantras, Beats, & Meditations has been in my car’s CD player for the last month, and it may just be the coolest yoga music CD I’ve ever listened to. But I admit: up until I heard this new album, I was saying that about his last one, Pilgrimage.
Using a delightful mash-up of hip hop, rap, and infectious world beats, MC Yogi is undoubtedly a master of telling stories in his music. This time around, MC Yogi morphs into a wise professor of the ancient teachings of yoga, and lucky for us he is sharing his yogic wisdom and love in such refreshingly creative way through his music.
If you think yoga is just about touching your toes, MC Yogi will fill you in on all the other aspects in the song “Eight Limbs,” a cleverly rhymed instructional journey through each of the limbs, or branches, of yoga. The song brings the teachings down to a level that is not only easy to comprehend, but easy to move and groove to.
If you have ever struggled with how to explain (or understand) the concepts of pratyahara or samādhi, you’ve got to listen to this track. It has officially become a part of my Beyond Beginners yoga class series, and I play it when I cover the eight limbs to offer the participants a fun and fresh take on the subject.
Want a quick discourse on the seven chakras? “Seven Wheels” is another informative hip-hop anthem that expertly guides the listener through the body parts, colors, senses, and emotions tied to each of the seven chakras. (MC, where were you when I taught my chakra yoga class series?!)
“Ahimsa” is MC Yogi’s storytelling at its finest. This tale beautifully lays out the concepts of ahimsa and samādhi. To quote the lyrics:
Ahimsa is the science of non-violence,
Practicing the art of peace, love, and kindness.
Cultivate a state where love shines the brightest,
Resolving conflicts with the ancient yoga science.
This song reinforces the teaching of yoga that when the mind is kept quiet, peace automatically will spread around it.
If you have not caught on to the general theme yet, this CD is a virtual hip-hop Yoga 101 (and 201) course, serving up the deeper spiritual teachings of yoga in a uniquely cool way. Any yoga practitioner, from beginner to advanced, can learn a few new things about yoga while absorbing the yoga teachings infused into each track.
One of the reasons I love this MC Yogi album is the mix of different musical genres, Indian music elements, and hip hop beats that were styled in big part by DJ Drez, who performs on the majority of the tracks and co-wrote “Heart Sutra.”
[youtube]http://youtu.be/K13fiDekllw[/youtube]
As much as I like listening to the CD, I’m finding it hard to put most of the tracks into my yoga class playlists. The songs are lyric heavy, and I feel it would be too distracting to give yoga cues on top of the rapping. However, with that said, I think this is excellent music for a rockin’ home practice, and I can highly recommend a booty shaking sun-salutation session to the hardcore hip-hop “Yoga Breakdance” or “A.U.M.” (which stands for Almighty, Universal, Magnetic).
There are two songs on Mantras, Beats, & Meditations that will definitely make it to one of my yoga class playlists: “Heart Sutra,” beautifully chanted by MC’s wife Amanda Giacomini, and “Prayer Wheel,” a chant of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, complete with a gorgeous cello accompaniment by Michael Fecskes.
MC Yogi is making the yoga festival rounds this summer. If you can make it to one of his concerts – or better yet one of his classes (yep, he and his wife Amanda are both yoga teachers) – or even better yet a yoga class where DJ Drez is knocking out the yoga beats for them, you are in for one yogalicious musical experience. I got to attend a class with MC, Amanda, and DJ Drez at Tadasana Festival, and it was incredible!
Hanging out with MC and Amanda at Tadasana Festival
Thank you MC Yogi for sharing your wisdom, musical talents, and energy. I have one request, though, for your next CD release: How about covering the Bhagavad Gita in a hip-hop storytelling feat?
See below for links to my reviews of other MC Yogi and DJ Drez albums.
Jahta Beat The Lotus Memoirs by DJ Drez – Yoga Class Playlist Nirvana
Pilgrimage – MC Yogi
Visit the Cool Yoga Music page on The Daily Downward Dog for yoga class playlists, CD reviews, and more!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
