Nov 25, 2014 |
The secret to happiness is doing what you love. The secret to success is loving what you do.
I have to admit that right now, I am REALLY HAPPY! I am absolutely loving what I do and I’m really excited to announce upcoming yoga workshops and new yoga classes that I am blessed to be able to share.
Essential Oils & Yoga Workshop
This Saturday, November 29, I am teaming up with my good friend, Kathleen Merk, to lead an Essential Oils and Yoga Workshop at Yoga Bliss Akron from 1-3 PM. I have been using essential oils like peppermint to relieve my headaches, using a diffuser at night with lavender essential oil to bring me to a peaceful sleep, and rubbing frankincense on my feet before meditation to keep me focused and centered.
The use of essential oils to heal and complement yoga practice is nothing new, in fact, it dates back thousands of years and originated in India with sandalwood and vetiver to aid in developing the mind for meditation, and creating a healthy balance between the mind, body, and spirit.
The essential oils used during this workshop are uplifting yet calming and will remind you of the importance of taking the time to nurture yourself and practice loving kindness. You’ll leave the workshop relaxed, refreshed, and with your very own pack of sample oils and a booklet with tips on how to effectively use each oil for improved physical and emotional health. If you have been curious about the benefits of essential oils, please join me and doTERRA Wellness Advocate Kathleen Merk for this Essential Yoga Workshop. All levels are welcome. Workshop fee is $35.
Register early as space is limited and you can register online through the Yoga Bliss website. If you are interested in this workshop and would like details on how to bring it to your workplace, meeting, or yoga studio, please contact Maria.
Do What You Love and Do it Often!
(this means do YOGA more often!!)
Yoga in Vermilion, Ohio
The winter yoga classes in Vermilion are in full swing, and no, they are not on the beach, but inside in a warm and groovy space in the library of Sailorway Middle School. I’ll be there on select Saturdays in December and New Years Eve and I just announced dates for the January and February classes as well as these special classes and workshops
New Years Eve Yoga & Meditation, December 31 | 3:00 PM
NEW Beginners’ 5-Week Series begins January 3 | 8:15-9:15 AM
Essential Oils & Yoga Workshop on Friday, February 6 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM
The Yoga of Bob Marley, Saturday, January 31 | 6-8 PM
Click here to see the full schedule of class dates in Vermilion.
NEW CLASSES AT YOGA BLISS
I am super excited that the schedule for the Ganesha (non-heated) Studio at Yoga Bliss Akron has expanded with lots of new class offerings every day of the week. I am teaching a few of the new Gentle Flow classes that are now offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:45 AM and a new class on Sunday nights called Sunday Night Stretch and Unwind.
On Sunday nights do you start to get stressed out thinking about the week to come? If this sounds like you, this class will help you unwind, quiet the mind, and relax. I start with a grounded and healing asana practice combined with meditative breathing to help you redirect your prana (energy) and breath into releasing tension and stress from the body. The second portion of class focuses on deeper, restorative stretches and meditation – each week a different and new experience from guided, silent, mantra, yoga nidra, breath work, and moving will be explored. This practice will quiet the mind and prepare you for a restful sleep so you can flow into the coming week with peace, clarity, and inspiration. The Ganesha Studio will be dimly lit and filled with peaceful music. All levels welcome.
I AM LOVE YOGA RETREATS
Don’t tell people your dreams, show them!
I show (and live) my dreams each year when I get to host yoga retreats on the most beautiful beaches in the world. In April of 2015 I will be hosting my 3rd Beach Yoga Bliss retreat in Aruba, and in September I’ll be leading another retreat in Santorini, Greece.
Our mantra each of these weeks will be “I Am Love,” and together we’ll learn how to live that mantra, letting go of fear, stress, or whatever is keeping you from living out your dreams and finding your bliss.
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!
May 22, 2014 |
I cannot even control the excitement over here at DDD headquarters because the Beach Yoga season is about to start in just 2 days! Wootie Woo Hoo! If you thought winter would never end, well it has baby, and we are springing our way right into summer! It’s time to roll out your beach yoga mat on the sandy shores of Lake Erie, bask in the sunlight, listen to the waves, and go from stressed out to blissed out.
Firefly Beach Yoga classes begin this Saturday, May 24 at 8:30 AM. The following weekend the full schedule kicks in with classes on Saturday, May 31, Sunday, June 1, and the first Wednesday night sunset beach yoga class on June 4 at 7:30 PM.
Linwood Beach sunset beach yoga classes begin on Tuesday, June 3 and run through August 26.
Main Street Beach Vermilion classes begin on Monday, June 9 and run through September 1. This year I’ve added a Friday morning class at Main Street.
And…there will be Full Moon Yoga Classes in July, August, and September!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Hope to see you on the beach this summer!!
Kelleys Island Beach Yoga & Wellness Retreat * September 11-14, 2014
Please join us September 11-14, on the idyllic Kelleys Island, for a weekend of beach yoga bliss and wellness. The festivities begin on Thursday, September 11, with a weekend reflexology workshop, and the yoga kicks off Friday evening with a sunset yoga and meditation class and continues through Sunday with lots of time to explore the island, have a chakradance experience, and perhaps indulge yourself with a Thai massage. There’s nothing better than doing your daily downward dogs basking in the sun, with a yoga class playlist courtesy of the rolling Lake Erie surf, and cool breezes brushing across your face. Come breathe, stretch, dance, relax, and find your bliss on Kelleys Island!
Beach Yoga picture by Laura Watilo Blake and taken on the gorgeous Linwood Beach in Vermilion, Ohio!
Nov 29, 2013 |
So, today is Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. I’ve always disliked the term “Black Friday” – it sounds so bleak. I kept telling everyone to not go shopping, but to instead go to a yoga class to make it Beautiful Friday.
If you are curious about this term “Black Friday,” there are several stories behind the origins, but the one that has become most prevalent is tied to retailers, where Black Friday indicates the point at which they typically begin to turn a profit, or are “in the black.” This terminology has always confused me, because “in the black” never sounded like a good thing to me.
All this Black Friday nonsense got me thinking about when we have our own personal Black Friday. In other words – what time of the year does our spiritual well-being really start to prosper to a point where we begin to reap the benefits from it?
Do you feel like you’re “in the black” in terms of spiritual well-being?
Some of you may feel that way, and if so, that is awesome (keep up the great work and don’t slack off in December)! If you’re not feeling the spiritual love, no worries, there’s still a whole whole month left of 2011 – and we’re going to focus today on what we can do right here, right now, to take our spiritual health from red to black, or better yet, let’s turn it to gold.
Here are a few strategies to enrich your spiritual well-being:
#1 Daily meditation. Spend a few quiet moments each and every day to let go of the mind and the mental chatter. Peace and wisdom come to the heart, not the mind.
#2 Let go of worry.
#3 Let go anger (and while we’re at it, in the same category, let go of judgment, fear, grudges – any of the nastiness that is not serving you). By practicing a sense of detachment, you can release anger, sadness, anxiety, or fear when it has a hold on you.
#4 Remember to honor your parents, elders, and teachers.
#5 Show gratitude to every living thing.
#6 Carve out some time for yourself each and every day. And of course, attending a yoga class is a great way to do this!
#7 Make a mental list of the most important people in your life. When the list is complete, figure out how you can spend more time with these VIPs. To quote James Taylor, “Shower the people you love with love.”
#8 Get outside and hug a tree. You don’t have to take this one literally, but even if it’s just for a few moments, time spent communing with nature can help restore your sense of peace in this crazy, stressed-out world.
#9 Give the gift of love. Volunteer some of your time, visit a neighbor or person who is shut-in, share a smile, give to a charity, or call someone you love today just to let them know it. If you give with your heart, without any expectation of what is to be gained or lost, that, my friends, is true spiritual gold.
#10 Got a great tip on how to flourish in spiritual health? Share the wisdom and leave a comment below.
December can be hectic, so I’m wishing you a peaceful month and a beautiful journey that takes you from red to gold on your path to spiritual well-being.
Photo: Fabian Nick
This post originally ran on December 2, 2011 – You gotta love an oldie but goodie!
Apr 19, 2013 |
Woo Hoo – I’m super excited to announce new Daily Downward Dog yoga classes coming to a yoga studio near you! Well, that is if you live in northeast Ohio. Get ready to flow through some vinyasa, deepen your meditation practice, and embrace your inner yogini goddess!
Vinyasa & Meditation | Mondays & Wednesdays 3:45-5:00 PM | Yoga Bliss Akron
Want to begin or deepen your meditation practice? This yoga class is dedicated to teaching the practice and benefits of meditation. Each class will begin with a seated pranayama (breath) exercise, followed by warm-ups and an all-levels vinyasa yoga practice. The last 15 minutes of class are dedicated to a long, sweet savasana and instruction for a quiet period of meditation to help your mind calm and let your body absorb the peace and stillness. The spiritual teachings of yoga will be weaved into class themes to deepen your understanding of yoga beyond the asana practice. Class length is 75 minutes and will be held in the Ganesha (non-heated) studio. All levels welcome.
The Vinyasa & Meditation classes begin on Monday begin April 22, and the Wednesday class will start up on Wednesday, May 8th!
Embracing Your Inner Goddess
Sunday, May 12 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM | Yoga Bliss Akron
Friday, May 17 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM | Nirvana Yoga in Richfield, Ohio
Saturday, June 1 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM | Namaste Yoga Studio in Sagamore Hills, Ohio
Yes, mere mortal women can be goddesses, and in this workshop we’ll explore the qualities that goddesses possess. You might be surprised at how many of these qualities—taking care of yourself, being present, loving yourself just the way you are—are in essence the same as the principles taught in the yoga sutras. So, by living in a yogic way both on and off the mat, we’re also in training to be goddesses! This 2-hour workshop will include discussion, a vinyasa yoga class suited for all levels, a meditation to tap into your divine inner feminine power, and opportunities to love and support fellow yogini goddesses. Bring a friend, a sister, your mother, a group of friends, or just yourself and share in this celebration of the goddesses in our lives. Please bring a journal and something to write with.I offered this goddess-themed class on my recent Aruba retreat, and it was a big hit!
Please contact Yoga Bliss Akron or Nirvana Yoga for further details on pricing and to register for these classes!
I offer a full schedule of yoga classes weekly as well as private and corporate yoga classes, and in just a few more weeks, the 2013 Summer Beach Yoga Classes begin! Please contact me if you need any additional information about Daily Downward Dog Yoga Classes.
