![No April Fooling! My Beach Yoga Classes Start This Week!]()
Apr 1, 2013 |
This is not an April Fools joke, my days of teaching on the beach start this very week, but not on Lake Erie! My first 2013 beach yoga classes will be held starting this Saturday on the gorgeous white sand Caribbean beaches of ARUBA. I’ll be teaching three community yoga classes at Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa in additional to the Beach Yoga Bliss retreat I’m leading in Aruba from April 6-13.
If you happen to be in Aruba from April 6-13, please plan on joining me for a class in this gorgeous setting.
I’m equally as excited to announce that my Summer Beach Yoga classes on Lake Erie are just two short months away! I’ve just posted the 2013 Lake Erie Beach Yoga schedule and will be teaching again this year at Firefly Beach Resort in Huron, Linwood Park, and Main Street Beach in Vermilion.
I can’t wait for my favorite summer job ever – sharing yoga outdoors with the sound of the surf, the wind on my face, and gorgeous blue skies, sunshine, and all the unexpected (but delightful) surprises that happen when you get outside in nature! And the best part, all the awesome yogis that come out to practice yoga with me!
Please get in touch with me if you have any questions about the schedule, and keep in mind that I am also available for private yoga sessions for individuals or groups, so get in touch to with me to book your very own beach yoga party for a group of friends or family.
Linwood Beach Vermilion
Tuesday Night Sunset Beach Yoga
at Linwood Park in Vermilion Ohio – 4920 Liberty Street
7:30 – 8:30 PM from June 4 – August 27
All levels welcome (see class description below). Let the guard booth know you are there for beach yoga
and there is no fee to enter the park. Class fee is $10
***
Firefly Beach Huron
Thursday Nights 7:30 – 8:30 PM
Friday & Saturday Mornings 8:30 – 9:30 AM
at the Firefly Beach Resort in Huron, Ohio
June 6 – August 31
The Firefly Beach Resort is located directly behind the Erie Kai Tavern at 4903 Cleveland Road East (Route 6) in Huron, Ohio, just minutes away from Sandusky, Ohio.
Please park in the front by the Erie Kai Tavern or in their side parking area and walk down towards the beach. Check-in for classes is under the pavilion at the top of the beach.
All levels are welcome for this Hatha style yoga class.
Drop ins welcome! Never a need to sign up – there is plenty of room on the beach and there is a covered shelter available for days when the weather does not cooperate.
Firefly Resort guests per class walk-in: $5.00
Non-Resort Guests per class walk-in: $10.00
10 Class Pass: $80.00
****
Main Street Beach Vermilion
Monday and Wednesday 8:30 – 9:30 AM
at the Main Street Beach in Vermilion, Ohio
June 3 – September 2
The Main Street Beach yoga classes in Vermilion are free and open to the public. Donations are welcome!
If you would like more information, please contact The Daily Downward Dog
or call (330) 289-7026. Private yoga classes either for individuals or groups may also be booked.
Class Description
Hatha Yoga — All Levels Welcome
Have you always wanted to practice yoga but hesitated because you thought it looked too difficult? If you are seeking a yoga class that will demystify yoga and teach the basics in a supportive and fun environment, then this class is for you! We will start out with warm-ups and proceed to step-by-step asana instruction, providing you with an active yet gentle practice that focuses on breath work, strengthening of the core and back, stretching, toning, and relaxation. This class will help you open up areas of tightness, such as hips and shoulders, and get you moving with basic Sun Salutations sequences—always with suggestions for modifications. If you are feeling stressed out, you will leave this class feeling refreshed and energized.
What to Bring
New students, please arrive 5-15 minutes early to prepare for class. Requests, concerns and questions will be happily addressed.
Bring your own sunscreen and yoga mat or beach towel, but we do have a few complimentary mats for students who need one. However, if you use our mats, please wipe them down (with wipes provided) after use. You should also bring an old sheet or a beach towel to place under your yoga mat to aid in keeping sand off your mat. You will also want to bring sunglasses or a hat for sunny days and also water for after class. No shoes needed, we will practice barefoot.
Weather
Updates are posted on the Daily Downward Dog Facebook Page and Twitter @downwarddog up to an hour before class on questionable weather days. Class is cancelled when temperature is below 45. If it is raining or there is a chance of rain, classes at The Firefly Beach Resort will be held under the covered pavilion (except on the rare occasion of high winds along with the rain).
Feb 25, 2013 |
In years past, I have publicly admitted my love for the Oscar Awards and, like so many things in my life these days, had to take that and morph it with my passion for yoga to create the YOGARS. To mix things up this time, rather than nominate my own picks for Best Asana, Best Supporting Asana, Best Yoga Moment, to name a few, I thought it would be cool to let my yoga classes join in the fun and nominate their very own picks for Best Asana. In every class I taught during the week leading up to the Oscars, I took all of their nominations and weaved them into the flow, and each group of students provided an excellent screenplay of asanas to direct. There were a few surprises, like when utkatasana (chair pose) was nominated and a few YOGAR snubs, like the fact that one of the hardest working asanas marjariasana (cat/cow) was not and has never been nominated, despite its awesome ability to warm up the spine.
Here are the poses (and parts of class) that got the most nominations for Best Asana:
- Pigeon
- Savasana
- Downward Dog – also affectionately referred to as Dogwood Down
- Warrior 1 & Warrior 2
- Bridge
- Upward Facing Dog
- Child’s pose
- Plank
- Tree
- Eagle
- Meditation
- Setting intentions
- Supta Baddha Konasana
- Triangle
- Shoulder stand
- Legs up the Wall
- Supta Padangusthasana – Reclined Big Toe Pose with Strap
- Camel
If it were up to me, my Best Asana this year would go to Warrior 2 for its unmistakable ability to make me feel like one fierce bad-ass yogini goddess. However, after tallying up all of the nominations, the YOGAR for Best Asana goes to….
It’s a tie!
Savasana
and Balasana!
During the Best Asana class, I also got the opportunity to ask my students to share with their fellow yogis what it is that they love the most about yoga. Their answers were both beautiful and inspiring. Here are a few of my favorites, and I hope I’ve written them here as eloquently as they were delivered:
- Learning to be present and live in the moment, not just in the good times, but the bad times as well.
- The breathing. It has helped me through medical emergencies and was a lifesaver for me.
- I get a whole body balance – mind, body, and spirit.
- The mind clearing.
- The connection with myself and spirit.
- In the hustle bustle of life, it makes me stop and look inward, to grasp what is happening, especially when I’m busy.
- The ability to focus on the breathing. I use it all the time now in stressful situations, like when I’m in the dentist chair.
- It’s relaxing!
- It’s peaceful!
- It is a personal time for me. Something good I can do for myself.
- It slows me down and gives me insight into being alive.
- It is a respite. The people here, the place, it is such a cool venue – it is a mental and physical respite.
- It’s good exercise and fun, but it doesn’t feel like exercise.
- It is the perfect balance of spiritual and physical release.
- Setting intentions
- It gets all the stress out.
Having a YOGA-themed class, gave me the opportunity to include some actual Oscar winners for Best Original Song in my class playlist. No, I didn’t include “It’s Hard Out There for a Pimp,” but these four did make the cut:
“Theme from Shaft” – Isaac Hayes
“You’ll Be in My Heart” – Phil Collins
[youtube]http://youtu.be/_aPXqrGoR1M[/youtube]
“When You Believe” – Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey
“Let the River Run” – Carly Simon
These Oscar Best Original songs also would have fit in my playlist and have been my yoga theme songs in the past:
“Fame”
“What a Feeling (Theme from Flashdance)
“I’ve Had the Time of My Life”
In the end, though, the YOGAR Best Original Song morphed into the Best Mantra category, and I serenaded my classes with the winner and invited them to chant along with me to Lokah Samastah Sukhinoh Bhavantu which translates to:
May all beings everywhere be happy and free.
And may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life,
contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/usJl7oiZPnc[/youtube]
I ended class with what you might call an acceptance speech, thanking my students for providing the screenplay for the class, for showing up to their mats, and for making my dream of being a yoga teacher come true!
Wishing all of you a beautiful year of best asanas, lots of best supporting asanas (you know the ones that help you build up to more strength and flexibility or keep you present), and many more incredible moments on this awesome yoga journey.
Oct 22, 2012 |
“I believe the second half of one’s life is meant to be better than the first half.
The first half is finding out how you do it. And the second half is enjoying it.” –Frances Lear
I’ve got a confession to make. In 2013 I will turn 50. Not 50 years old, but 50 years young! Woo Hoo! I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this milestone and the second half of my life than doing what I love – practicing yoga with an awesome community of yogis on a beach. Better yet, there will be miles of pristine white sand beaches that rank among the most beautiful in the world – ARUBA!
Join me in Aruba at the Extraordinary Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa
April 6–13, 2013 for a week of
This yoga adventure retreat is all about celebrating life – no matter what your age. It will be a trip to feed your soul, to find some well deserved time of your own, to be inwardly attentive, and to discover your true essence through the practice of pranayama, yoga, and meditation. Come along with me on a journey to celebrate your mind, your body, your beauty, your creativity, and ultimately, to find your bliss as you dip your toes in the sand and experience the utter delight of practicing yoga on a beach.
Imagine waking up to perfect 82-degree weather, inspirational beachfront yoga classes, meditating to the sound of the surf, pampering yourself with spa treatments in a Caribbean-Balinese style spa facility, and maybe even trying a new adventure like stand-up paddling.
We’ll start each day with an uplifting beach yoga and meditation session. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to relax at the pool or beach, or venture around the beautiful island of Aruba to hike, snorkel, shop, dive, or explore with one of the planned day trip adventures. In the evening we’ll convene for a sunset yoga celebration and spiritual meditation experience. The resort offers two options for outdoor yoga classes: a large covered yoga pavilion, a yoga deck on the beach, and I’m sure a few of the classes we’ll wander off and practice close to the waves!
One of the highlights of the trip will be letting go of your fears by the unique experience of paddleboard yoga. You will flow with nature on the paddleboard as you learn the basics of stand-up paddling in the crystal blue Caribbean waters and maybe even try out a few yoga poses as you float. Regardless of the level of your practice, downward dog on a paddleboard offers a new appreciation for grounding and for your steady mat.
There are four group planned dinners included (two at the resort and two at the outstanding local restaurants) and an evening sunset catamaran cruise. The trip also includes daily breakfast plus two lunches at the resort.
There’s shopping, gambling, and late-night dancing just a short cab ride away from the resort, so I’m sure one evening (or maybe several) will be designated for a celebration dance party.
Here are a few other experiences you’ll have on this adventure: smiles, dancing on your yoga mat, group hugs, being good to yourself, chocolate cupcakes, laughter, embracing your inner child, time for peace and solitude, and pure joy!
Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa offers the ultimate Caribbean yoga vacation experience within an intimate, two-story boutique resort located on the shores of majestic Eagle Beach. The ocean and garden view rooms are newly renovated in an inviting, contemporary island décor and feature top-notch amenities, including contemporary luxury bedding to make your stay relaxing and enjoyable. The deluxe bathrooms offer a rejuvenating experience with rain/waterfall showers.
For more details about this yoga retreat and to make your reservation, head on over to The Travel Yogi – while you’re there check out the other awesome yoga retreats they offer to Bali, Santorini, Tulum (guess where I’ll be going next).
“People tell me I look good these days. I look good because I feel good. I know people who are older than I am who are twenty-five… It’s all about attitude. To me, age is just a number.” –Rita Moreno
Forget the black crepe paper and balloons. If you are reaching a milestone age like me (be it 30, 40, 50, 60, 70), this yoga adventure is the celebration of life you’ve earned. Get the change of attitude you deserve, and join other yogini goddesses (and me!) in Aruba this April for a week of pure inspirational beach yoga bliss.
“People tell me I look good these days. I look good because I am following my bliss. It’s all about the yoga, my fountain of youth, and finding balance and peace. To me, yoga is the key to living a long, healthy and happy life.” –Maria Santoferraro
May 24, 2012 |
I love it when a student tells me that they took something they learned in one of my yoga classes off the mat and into their world. I think that, for any teacher, this just may be one of the most gratifying elements – to know that you have passed on a valuable exercise or lesson that has helped a student grow.
I always start out my classes with breath meditation or a pranayama breathing exercise. For me it is the best way to quiet the mind, get in touch with the body and breath, and prepare for practice. One of the breathing exercises I teach and also practice on a daily basis is bhramari. The word comes from the Sanskrit name bhramar, which translates to “humming black bee.” One of the reasons I love bhramari breathing is that its list of super-power benefits includes:
calming the mind
reducing stress
improving concentration
easing tensions, anger, and anxiety
aiding in sleep disorders and insomnia
lowering blood pressure
That, my yogi friends, is one powerful pranayama!
One of my students has what I would imagine is one of the most stressful jobs around: an emergency room doctor. She came up to me after class a week ago and told me that she was experiencing a particularly stressful evening in the ER, filled with lots of traumas and a frazzled staff. She called her team together in a huddle and proceeded to teach them the bhramari breathing exercise she learned in class. She explained that, after they did the exercise and for the remainder of the evening, a renewed sense of calm was evident, and the good feelings remained as her co-workers would walk by her, smile, and then give her a quick “buzz.”
The power of pranayama can be applied off the mat, in the car, in the office, and even in a crazed ER room.
Want to get in on the buzz! Here’s how to do bhramari breathing:
1. Sit in easy sit pose or any comfortable seated position.
2. Firmly plug the ears by inserting both thumb tips into your ear holes with a little pressure.
3. Take your hands and cup them gently over your eyes, blocking out light and sight.
4. Fill the air in your lungs to the brim with a deep inhale, hold the breath for one count, and then exhale slowly through both nostrils, making a humming sound like a bee.
5. Keep the sound going as long as you can keep the exhale. The louder the better!
6. Repeat the bumble bee breath a total of five times.
7. After completing the fifth round, bring the hands to the knees with palms up, keep your eyes closed, and feel the vibrations of the bhramari breathing throughout the head and the body. Notice the calming effects of the breath and the calm, relaxed state that has been created. Let the yumminess of the bhramari breath just soak over you.
8. Spend a few more moments in silent meditation. Feel that you are at peace. You can focus your awareness on your third eye at the center of the forehead, the sides of the eyes, and can feel the warmness of the bhramari breath until the echo or vibrations fade away.
9. Gently open your eyes and take a few moments to observe your surroundings with full awareness and bliss.
This practice can be done at the start or end of your day, before a yoga practice, or anytime you need to clear your mind.
So much of what we learn on the yoga mat can be applied in our everyday lives: letting go of the ego and judgment, showing love for ourselves and our bodies, remaining present, and taking the time to pause, breathe, buzz, and enjoy the moment.
Bumble Bee Image: Andrej Sevelin
May 15, 2012 |
I just want to go on the record to say that I have the best summer job ever. Not only do I get to teach yoga, but I get to do it on a beach! I am thrilled to announce that I will be back on the beautiful shores of Lake Erie in Vermilion and Huron, Ohio this summer to serve up some pranayama breathing, asana practice, and meditation, all with the best outdoor studio accoutrements – the sun, a yoga playlist courtesy of the rolling surf, gentle cooling breezes, and the sounds and sights of nature in hi-def. Well sometimes those breezes aren’t exactly gentle, but the elements typically all come together for a little slice of nirvana.
My beach yoga schedule is as follows:
Firefly Beach Resort in Huron, Ohio
Friday & Saturday mornings 8:30 – 9:30 AM
Sunset Yoga on Thursday evenings from 7:30 – 8:30 PM
The Firefly Beach Resort is located directly behind the Erie Kai Tavern at 4903 Cleveland Road East (Route 6) in Huron, Ohio.
Main Street Beach in Vermilion, Ohio
Monday & Wednesday mornings 8:30 – 9:30 AM
(please note this is a change from Thursday to Wednesday)
Main Street Beach is located in downtown Vermilion. Just take Main Street until it dead ends into Lake Erie!
Click here for more information on these beach classes.
I’m also excited to let you know about some special classes I have coming up.
Yoga & Meditation
Monday, January 21, 7:30 – 8:30 PM. Join me for a blissful hour of pranayama breathing exercise and gentle asana yoga practice, followed by meditation. Great for yoga students looking to deepen their understanding of meditation, or those who want to get started with a daily meditation routine.
Beginner’s Workshop – Saturday, May 19 – 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Have you always wanted to practice yoga but didn’t know where to start? If you are seeking an experience that will demystify yoga and teach the basics in a supportive and fun environment, then I’ve got a workshop or series of classes that’s right for you!
This workshop will begin with a brief introduction to yoga. Next we’ll move to warm-ups and pranayama (breathing) exercises, proceed to step-by-step asana (pose) instruction of the basic yoga postures to demonstrate proper alignment, providing you with an active yet gentle practice that focuses on breath work, strengthening the core and back, stretching, toning, and guided relaxation. Suggestions for modifications to poses will be presented throughout the class, along with proper use of props and the Sanskrit and English names of the postures. What to bring: A yoga mat (mats are available to borrow at the studio), water, and an open beginner’s mind. Questions will be encouraged and welcome throughout the class. Wear comfortable clothing. Class is held at Yoga Bliss Akron right behind Summit Mall at 3045 Smith Road. Class size is limited to 20 students, so register early by calling (330) 571-7861.
Beginner’s Class Series – Wednesday’s May 16 through June 12 – 7:30 to 8:30 PM
This five-week series of classes covers the same principles taught in the workshop with each class building on the next, leaving you with a core foundation to start your yoga practice. This class is also held at Yoga Bliss Akron.
Please contact me at (330) 289-7026 if you have any questions or need additional details about the classes.
Hope to see you on a yoga mat soon!
Got a favorite summer job? Leave a comment below and tell us all about it!
