Feb 22, 2014 |
What if I let go of all of my fears today and did something I’ve never dared to do?
What if I let go of regrets from the past and just focused on being in love with my life today?
What if I put down my I phone and really connected with those I love?
What If I let go of caring what others think of me and let my freak flag fly high?!
Two words with so much power … What if.
These two simple words more than inspired me a few weekends ago when I attended a Saturday night yoga extravaganza with 800+ yogis in the gorgeous new atrium of the Cleveland Art Museum. Doing yoga with a group of people is special, but when you get to do it in an incredible venue with the combined energy of hundreds of yogis supporting each other, add in awesome music, and do a little yoga mat dancing and meditation, that my friends is what I call yogalicious!
Photo courtesy of New Image Photography
This second Believe in CLE event was the brainchild of Tammy Lyons, owner of Inner Bliss Yoga Studio, and Adam Tilocco, who wanted to create a yoga movement to celebrate pride in Cleveland. These two asked each other, “What if we put together a yoga class at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland?” That simple question blossomed into one of the coolest yoga events I’ve ever attended with over 1,400 yogis from all over northeast Ohio coming together as one community to practice yoga, meditate, and dance on their yoga mats on a gorgeous September evening with the sun setting over Lake Erie and the illuminated Cleveland skyline and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the back drop. I can’t even describe what the energy felt like – a yoga moment I will never forget, the pure joy from it brought me to tears as I lay on my back looking up at the stars during savasana. If it was possible, it made me love Cleveland and yoga even more!
I’m sure that when Tammy and Adam said “What if…?” that first time, they never dreamed that the outcome at the events would look like this…
Photo courtesy of Simone Jowell Photography
Sweaty from dancing on our yoga mats and full of bliss, we were all asked to ponder this question from Tammy: “What if we took all the love, compassion, and sense of community we are feeling on our yoga mats and brought it back to share in our own communities?”
What if we treated all beings with the same amount of love and compassion?
What If? These two words have definitely inspired me to go out and make a difference off my yoga mat and out in my community.
What if you believed in and made a dream come true?
What if the possibilities for peace and joy are endless?
What if you [fill in the blank]?
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Feb 13, 2014 |
Everyone loves to get affirmation, and yesterday I got to receive a huge dose of special affirmations whispered lovingly into my ear. Before you start thinking it was my husband getting all romantic before Valentine’s Day, think again, because these beautiful messages were delivered by fellow yogis who are participating in the 40 Days to Personal Revolution program along with me at Yoga Bliss Akron.
As I sat with eyes closed, these were just a few of the sweet affirmations whispered into my ear:
You are beautiful.
I am so glad you’re here.
Your smile lights up the room.
You are smart!
I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have these positive message delivered in such a delicate but powerful way, and I allowed myself to accept the affirmations, to believe them, and to let them fill my heart with loving kindness.
In my yoga classes this week I spoke about the importance of nurturing yourself, to be sure you are talking to yourself in a way that is loving, the same way you would talk to someone you cared deeply for.
Do you practice loving kindness on your yoga mat, or do you spend a lot of time beating yourself up about not being able to quiet your mind or touch your toes?
Next time you step onto your yoga mat, try something new and silently whisper positive affirmations to yourself. Be gentle, loving, kind, and attentive as you practice. Step outside of your normal routine and focus on taking care of you, and I guarantee you will feel better. Notice how your yoga practice changes, and expect to be delighted.
The affirmation I shared with the rest of the group was a quote from Buddha:
“You more than anyone else in the entire universe
is worthy of your love.”
The 40 Days to Personal Revolution program I’m participating in is being led by Tracy Rhinehart. This powerful and proven program was developed by Baron Baptiste and provides the tools, guidance and, inspiration to awaken the unlimited potential that resides in all of us. For the next 40 days I’ll be practicing yoga and meditation daily, eating mindfully (including a 3-day juice fast), journaling, and focusing on personal growth. I can’t wait to see what these next 40 days bring and I’ll keep you posted on my journey.
Please leave a comment below if you have ever participated in a program like this and let me know about your experience!
Share the Yoga Love this weekend:
Saturday, February 15 in Vermilion | 9:30 – 10:45 AM | All Levels Hatha Yoga | Bring a friend, sister, mother, brother, or anyone you love and they get class for half price!
Sunday February 16 | 1:00 – 3:15 PM | Beginners’ Workshop | Learn the basics of yoga in a fun and supportive environment!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Jan 27, 2014 |
It has been way too long since I wrote about cool yoga music or a song that lifts me up, inspires, and makes it irresistible to do a little dance on my yoga mat. So, it is with extreme joy that I announce my newest yoga theme song, “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors.
Replace my usual woo-hoo with a wo-o-o-o—oh and add in some talk about dreams so big and never looking back, and I’m thinking this song may just have been tailor written for me.
This last year, I spoke often in my yoga classes about the inspiration of one of my role models, yogini goddess and 96-year-young Tao Porchon-Lynch, who starts off each and every day by saying to herself, “Today is going to be the best day of my life, and nothing is impossible.” I decided to pick up her morning ritual; each day before my feet hit the ground, I repeat the mantra, “Today is going to be the best day of my life!” I say it, I believe it, and I live it every day. And now I have a musical soundtrack to back it up! That’s Tao Porcho- Lynch and me in the photo above at the New York Yoga Journal Conference in 2012.
If you’ve never heard the song, I’ve got a link to the video below. For dog lovers, American Authors also has a dog version of the video – how cool is that!
[youtube]http://youtu.be/Y66j_BUCBMY[/youtube]
Never gonna look back
Never gonna give up
No limits, just epiphanies
Everything is looking up, everyone get up!
This is going to be the best day of my life!
I’m definitely going to put this song into a yoga class playlist to serve as a reminder to wake up every morning full of gratitude and joy with the belief that each and every day can be the best day of your life, if you believe it. This mantra has absolutely been a game-changer for me. Sing it with me: woo-woo-o-o-o-oh, this is going to be the best day of my life!
Aug 24, 2013 |
Doing something for the first time can be really magical and memorable. Who can forget their first kiss, first visit to the ocean, or very first time in downward dog?
I’ve made a lot of first-time memories on my yoga mat, like the first time I ever did a tripod headstand, the first time I blogged about yoga **, the first time I cried on my yoga mat, the first yoga class I taught, and this year, I’ve been fortunate to add a few more…
Hosting my first beach yoga retreat in Aruba!
Having close to 60 yogis show up to practice yoga with me on a gorgeous evening underneath the super full moon at Firefly Beach.
Teaching my first beach yoga birthday party class!
Salamba Sirsasana on a stand-up paddle board.
And, next week, another big first: I’m going to teach my very first yoga class with live music! Yep, it is going to be like my own mini yoga festival with a sunset beach yoga class and the musical stylings of Sid Jordan and his acoustic guitar. I’m a huge fan of what happens when yoga and music come together and write about it a lot here on the DDD, so I’m more than just a little geeked out about this!
Sid Jordan performing LIVE at Main Street Beach in Vermilion this Summer
This is going to be one of my last summer beach yoga classes of the 2013 season, so come on out and join me for this special evening. Practicing yoga on the sand right in front of Lake Erie with the sunset lighting up the sky, and the wind and waves is already pretty special, but adding in live music will make for a truly memorable night! If you have never attended a yoga class with music, do yourself a favor and check it out next Thursday, August 29, at Firefly Beach in Huron, Ohio at 7:30 PM.
The Firefly Beach Resort is located behind the Erie Kai Tavern at 4903 Cleveland Road East (Route 6) in Huron, Ohio, just minutes away from Vermilion and Sandusky. All levels are welcome for this Hatha style yoga class.
How cool would it be if this is your first yoga class, or first beach yoga class, or first yoga class with live music?!
** Happy Birthday Daily Downward Dog – three years old on August 20, 2013!!
Jul 16, 2013 |
If you come to my yoga classes, you’ve probably learned a couple of new asanas that were inspired by my 4-year-old great-niece Lily. (Yes – I’ve graduated to the title of Great Aunt, which I lovingly cherish and also think is quite fitting since I am great at being an aunt.)
Any time I get to be around Lily, we always get down on the floor to play and eventually do a little yoga together. I love the sense of joy and freedom that she brings to the asanas, and she always teaches me to not take myself so seriously on my yoga mat. In fact, we should all follow this cue and bring a little more playfulness into our yoga practice.
Three-year-young Fiona, another great-niece has taught me more about the fine art of hugasana, with her ability to dive bomb into my arms and share her love with the HUGEST hugs.
I was recently blessed with another great-niece named Salem, and at 4 months old, she is a natural when it comes to honoring her body. This girl knows how to move herself around to positions that feel good and just naturally flows into these beautiful backbends to strengthen her back.
Humm, I think my great nieces are onto something!
Over the 4th of July weekend I got to visit both of them and spent time observing and picking up a few new yoga asanas that I’d like to share with you.
Swimasana
Inspired by Lily, come into dekasana (airplane pose), and then instead of leaving the arms at your sides, begin taking your arms forward and back like you are doing the breaststroke. The leg that is back behind you follows along with the arms, like you are kicking the legs back and then forward to support the breaststroke. This actually makes dekasana a little more challenging, but a helluva a lot more fun because you can’t do it without smiling and ultimately laughing at yourself.
Salemasana
Start by lying flat on your belly, legs together and straight behind you. Take your knees out to the sides of your yoga mat, and then lift your feet up to press the soles of the feet together.
Set your elbows under your shoulders and your forearms on the floor parallel to each other (similar to Sphinx pose). As you inhale, start to lift your head, neck, and upper torso off of the ground and into a backbend.
I don’t know if Salem had this in mind, but I directed my classes to bring awareness to their belly button, lightly drawing it away from the floor. This belly lift supports the backbend and soothes the lower back.
The final step in the pose is to plaster a big smile on your face and just look cute – after all, that is what 4-month-olds naturally do.
Hold salemasana for 5 to 10 complete rounds of breath.
To come out of the pose, exhale as you slowly release the belly and lower your torso and head to the floor. Relax and, if you like, take your head to one side and bend the knees, letting them float from left to right like a windshield wiper for a few breaths. Take a moment to pause here and deepen your breath and then repeat salemasana one or two more times.
I’m sending out a huge hug and lots of gratitude to Salem, Lily, and Fiona for teaching me about yoga and inspiring these awesome new poses. To my beautiful great nieces, I can’t wait to see you again and to continue to learn and grow my practice through your youthful energy, joy, hugs, and wisdom.
