Dec 31, 2017 |
By Lisa Sands (woo hoo a guest post on the DDD)
I never thought I would be the “type of person” who would go on a yoga retreat. I thought that sort of thing was for people with way too much time on their hands, people with lots of money to spare, or lots of problems to run from.
But, there I was in the tropical heat of Bali with 20 other women, getting up at 6 a.m. for sunrise yoga, tapping into my goddess nature, wearing sarongs, going without makeup. Thinking. Not thinking. Praying. Listening. Questioning. Thanking. Hating myself. Loving myself. Loving myself some more like it was my job.
How I arrived at the decision to go is not nearly as interesting or important as the experience itself, or the way it changed me afterward. What I did not realize when I put down my deposit, almost a full year before, is how much I would need it when the time came, and how it would fill a void in my life I could not have predicted.
Twenty people, mostly strangers, meeting halfway around the world to practice yoga…is fantastic and special and, yeah, a little uncertain and uncomfortable. And you are the perfect person to go, just as you are, complete with your baggage, sadness, questions and fears.
Everyone is there for a different reason—most come for spiritual growth, reflection, or healing. Some come to deepen their physical practice. Me? I was there for the adventure—I craved a life shake up. I was feeling aimless and unsettled. I wanted to be somewhere that looked and felt so different than home. I wanted to see if I missed my life and the people I loved. I wanted to get to know me again. For reasons I can’t really explain, I sensed that I needed to be far away from the familiar so that I could stake a claim for my future self.
Don’t worry if people around you don’t understand. You can go if you are highly experienced or you haven’t advanced beyond beginner slow flow. You don’t have to be a mystical yogi and no, you don’t have to be a practicing Hindu or Buddhist. I don’t identify with those and I still found value in channeling my own understanding of the Divine through yoga and meditation. I think the key to those things is quiet and listening—something that is easier to accomplish far away from all the things I am called to do and be on a daily basis.
I saw the other side of the world—somewhere I’d never thought about— and met happy people living in simplicity and devotion untainted by our distinctly American ideas about abundance. I washed away my own discomfort and self-consciousness in a remote temple pool as part of a centuries-old purification ritual with hundreds of other religious pilgrims and seekers.
I stood at the base of the tallest waterfall I’d ever seen up close and soaked it all in, literally, letting my doubts and fears wash away down a mountain stream in a jungle.
As a steamy dawn prepared to arise from beyond the nearby rice paddies, I witnessed an annual religious procession of thousands of people dressed in white, chanting and playing music. I learned from our hosts at Floating Leaf this was a Melasti Pilgrimage and these “parades” precede Nyepi Day, a New Year celebration. It was breathtaking and I felt very small and insignificant and, at the same time, connected to something large and amazing.
I came back home with eyes wide open to the beauty of other another culture. I was more confident, at ease, and tolerant of myself and of others. I looked fear in the eye and left it in the dust. I bonded with other strong, capable women and learned that they, like me, had their own unique, painful, and beautiful journeys and things to confront and reconcile. I learned from them and they are part of me.
So if a little voice is whispering to you and you have an unexplained stirring for something you can’t name, you may be wondering what it is you really need. If you need to break free from expectations, to shout out and wildly proclaim your truth, or if you need to get really quiet and inside yourself, and let a big ugly cry happen, then yeah, a yoga retreat is for you.
Don’t wait. Do it. You’re worth it.
THANK YOU Lisa – I absolutely love this and you and all the Goddesses who journeyed to Bali with me in 2017!
If you are ready to say YES to a yoga retreat, please join me in 2018 as I head back to Floating Leaf Resort for another Shanti, Shanti, Bali Yoga Retreat from March 12 – 18, 2018. We’ll be there during Nyepi, the Balinese New Year festivities so it will be a magical time to be on the island. I’m offering a special NEW YEAR’S Offer on the Bali Yoga Retreat and bringing back the early bird retreat pricing through January 7, so click here for more details about the 2018 Shanti, Shanti, Bali Yoga Retreat.
Or click the image below for more details on upcoming Daily Downward Dog Yoga Retreats to Sedona and Panama in 2018.
Dec 22, 2017 |
If you think or imagine that the energy in Sedona is amazing, wait until this February when two redheads and an amazing yogini Goddess, and an incredible Yoga Festival descend upon the Red Rocks!
Women of Wisdom Red Rocks Vortex Yoga Retreat – Feb 5-8, 2018
I’m super excited to announce that fellow redhead Dr Sharon Stills and I are teaming up for another Women of Wisdom Yoga Retreat at the gorgeous Mago Sedona Retreat Center this coming February 5-8, 2018. It is going to be a gathering of Goddesses practicing yoga and meditation together, learning about healthy practices that will bring you vitality and joy, hiking through vortexes, hot tub soaking under the stars, and finding time for much needed peaceful relaxation and rejuvenation. There are still a few spots left and one female roommate needed – so head on over to my retreat page to get more details about this inspirational retreat.
Dr Sharon Stills getting her Om on!
2018 Sedona Yoga Festival – February 8-11, 2018
After the retreat, I’m heading right to the Sedona Yoga Festival and I’m beyond thrilled to practice with my teacher the OMazing 99-years young Yogini Goddess Tao Porchon Lynch who is one of the headlining presenters at the 2018 Sedona Yoga Festival.
Maria & Tao
I will be presenting two workshops at the Festival this year and it would totally geek me out if Tao came to my workshop! I’m going to put that wish out to the universe and I’ll keep you posted!
The Sedona Yoga Festival is three days of pure awesOMeness with yoga, music, and energy work set in intimate locations throughout Sedona. There will be 77 presenters that include yogis, healers, artists, authors, musicians, shamans, scientists, philosophers, and performers.
Sharing the Embrace Your Inner Goddess Workshop at the 2016 Sedona Yoga Festival
At the Festival you’re encouraged to set aside time to embrace your surroundings, which include some of the most breathtaking high desert landscapes in the world in a variety of Sedona’s vibrant neighborhoods.
If you want to get a feel for what the festival is like, watch this video…
Ready to head to the Red Rocks with me? Use the offer code below and you will save 11% on an All-Access Pass to the Sedona Yoga Festival. I highly encourage to purchase your pass now so when the schedule is announced you’ll be notified first and can start signing up for the sessions you want to attend, and believe me it will be a difficult decision because there will be so much to choose from.
Offer Code: DailyDownDog
Come experience the inspiring and regenerative power of the vortex energy for yourself. Sedona is absolutely an ideal place to kick of 2018! I hope to see you there!
Dec 8, 2017 |
I’m a big believer that we should share and give gifts every day! The gifts of our kindness, love, and compassion. These are the gifts that keep on giving and that need to be given to ourselves first and then to others. But just in case you are hankering to wrap up something to put under the tree for those extra special yogis in your life, I offer these awesOMe yoga gift suggestions.
Give the Gift of Healthy Hydration! Drink More Water and Drink it Safely with the LifeProof Glass Bottle from Anchor Hocking
Get rid of plastic bottles and start drinking your water without fear of harmful toxins or flavor distortion. This tempered glass bottle from Anchor Hocking is not only made in the USA – it is made in OHIO! Woot! It contains zero plastic components, the lid and mouthpiece are made of 304-grade stainless steel, and the outside wrap is BPA-silicone for additional cushion and protection from breakage. The glass bottle opening is wide enough to easily add ice cubes or fruit and is dishwasher safe. Pick one up for a gift or for you on Amazon or online.
The Perfect Yoga Gift For Kids! Play Yoga by Lorena Valentina Pajalunga with OMazing Illustrations by Anna Lang
My great nieces and nephews don’t know this yet, but they are all getting a copy of this gorgeous and FUN book for Christmas. Yoga is so good for kids, helps them stay healthy and calm, and the 20 yoga poses in this book inspired by the animal world, make the practice super fun, too! This book features super colorful illustrations of every pose that could be used as posters to decorate a child’s room. Even the youngest yogi can master the asanas, thanks to the charming explanations and step-by-step instructions. I love that each pose has an inspirational message tied to it, for example for fish pose it says, “From the fish, learn to go with the flow.”
I have to tell the back story of this book because it is pretty cool. Thirty years ago, Lorena V. Pajalunga (Swami Pragya Chaksu Saraswati) was entrusted by her master, Swami Satyanananda of Bihar School of Yoga of Munger in India, with the task of teaching yoga to children. She not only did that but also founded the Associazione Italiana di Yoga per Bambini (AIYB). She teaches yoga at the GiocaYoga laboratory in Milan and you can find her on Facebook.
You can order the book on Amazon and it is also available at retailers like Barnes & Noble.
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Onzie High Rise Super Fun Yoga Leggings!
I had a lot of fun this year in my Onzie High Rise leggings. They went with me to Bali, Italy, and the beaches of Lake Erie! A lot of yoga leggings claim to be high waisted, but Onzie is the only one I’ve found so far that stays in place above the waist. I can’t even tell you how happy it makes me when I’m practicing yoga to be at peace because I don’t feel like I constantly have to pull up my yoga pants. You can order the leggings direct from Onzie or purchase them on Amazon.
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Sri Ma: Chants of Divine Mother, Yoga Goddesses Lakshmi, Shri Durga, Kali Maa, Saraswati & Radha
My new favorite yoga music is this awesome digital-only collection of Goddess chants from White Swan Records. As our world gets more chaotic and attacks continue on our Mother Earth, I feel the need even more to invoke the Goddess presence for inner peace and harmony. This collection of 21 powerful mantras and chants to the Goddesses Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Radha, and Saraswati will move you, comfort you, and boost your feminine superpowers. I’ve been listening to these chants as I meditate and will be including many of these cuts in my yoga class playlists.
White Swan Records has a huge collection of yoga musical artists and when I purchased this collection I downloaded it right to my phone through the Bandcamp app for instant unlimited streaming. Head on over to the White Swan Records website for details on how to digitally download and be sure to sign up for free music on their White Swan Wednesdays!
Give the Gift of a Daily Downward Dog Yoga Retreat!
Get all the details on these upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats to Sedona, Bali, or Panama on the Retreats Page.
I’ll be announcing more 2018 yoga retreats in the next few months and definitely plan to get back to Italy and Greece in the Fall, so sign up for my email newsletter so you get all the retreat announcements!
Give the gift of a Yoga Festival!
I’m super excited to announce that I’ll be presenting workshops at the 2018 Sedona Yoga Festival this coming February 8-11. This year’s festival will have over 200 intimate workshops and sessions being held around West Sedona and Uptown at Sedona’s Yoga studios and spiritual centers. I can’t wait to practice with some of my favorite teachers like Tao Porchon Lynch, Hemalayaa, Saul David Raye, Michael Cohen, and Silvia Mordini.
Consider heading to Sedona a few days early to attend the Women of Wisdom Sedona Red Rocks Vortex Retreat, and then stay for the Sedona Yoga Festival. If you are interested in attending please contact me for a special discount code for all access festival passes.
Gift Certificates
Not sure what to give? I can help put together a custom yoga gift for the aspiring yogi or experienced yogi on your list. How about a few private yoga sessions, a yoga-themed birthday or special celebration party, a yoga class-pass, yoga teacher training, or an amount to be applied to the purchase of a yoga retreat! You name it, I can put together a gift certificate to wrap up and put under the tree. Contact me for more information.
Wishing you and those you love a very BLESSED Holiday Season! I am thankful for your continued support and presence in my life and sending you a big virtual HUG!
Aug 11, 2017 |
I’m a fan of Oracle card decks that are used to provide guidance and inspiration. I have quite a few of these decks with words of wisdom from nature, Goddesses, Angels, and even my own personal Soul Coach. These decks sit on a shelf in my office and occasionally I’m drawn to one of them, and I pick a card to give me guidance for the day.
Sometimes I laugh when I pick a card because it reminds me of getting a fortune in a cookie. I may not always like my fortune or understand it, but sometimes I pick one and it is spot on and I’m sure that has happened to you.
My latest card was like hitting the Oracle jackpot because I picked the word FAITH.
The card had a picture of a trapeze artist flying through the air, arms outstretched to catch the swinging bar. There was a lot of space in between his hands and the bar, and I must tell you that is exactly how I feel right now. I’m taking a lot of leaps of faith with the international yoga retreats I’m planning, kicking off a new yoga teacher training program in Columbus, and the development of a big project on my vision board this year, all of which can be a bit daunting and scary at times. I want the progress on all these projects to move faster, to not be afraid to put myself out there, to have more time to work on them, to stop doubting myself, and to believe I’m heading in the right direction.
The mantra tied to this card is, “My life is divinely guided.”
The deeper meaning of the card that really resonated with me is this, “Faith is the foundation of the ability to manifest.” So, if I don’t have faith in what I’m doing, I’m never going to manifest these dreams. I need to have faith and trust.
The card also gave me the affirmation to be patient, that nothing great happens overnight. I am planting seeds that will manifest in the future, so I shouldn’t expect them to flower right after they go into the soil. Patience, faith, and trust.
I wanted to share my card with you because I think the practice of FAITH when struggling with a difficult or big task is one we can all relate to. We need to trust that we are exactly where we need to be both on and off our yoga mats. The practice of yoga includes the practice of Faith, Patience, and Trust.
About a week after I pulled the Faith card, I pulled another card and its message was ACTION. The primary message on this card, “The time is now! Don’t hesitate–take action! Face your fear and do it anyway.”
OK, Universe I hear you loud and clear. I have FAITH, I’m kicking fear to the curb and manifesting my dreams. Are you ready to join me?
If you have been thinking about becoming a Yoga Teacher, now is the time to take ACTION, my Healthy, Mind, Body, Soul Yoga Teacher Training program begins again at Sequoia Wellness in Rootstown, Ohio this October 6. If fear or doubt is holding you back, let it go, have Faith that the universe has called you, yes you, to start planting the seeds to manifest your dreams of sharing and serving others through the practice of yoga. If you want to read about my journey to becoming a yoga teacher (I had a lot of doubts and fears too) check out my blog post: When the Student is Ready, the Teacher Will Appear.
I’m super excited to announce that I’ll also be co-teaching a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Program with Mary Pat Murphy at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Health and Fitness Center that begins November 10, 2017, in New Albany, Ohio. Mary Pat and I will be in New Albany on Tuesday, August 22, to teach a 7:00 PM yoga class and answer questions about the YTT program.
Want to take action on your wanderlust? The Shanti, Shanti, Bali Yoga Retreat next March is filling up, so if you are interested in getting immersed in your yoga practice and Balinese culture along with experiencing the spectacle or their New Year’s celebrations, please read more about this retreat.
Purification Ritual during the Shanti, Shanti, Bali Yoga Retreat
And, over the next few weeks I’m getting ready to announce another international yoga retreat and a new program that will make my yoga classes much more accessible, so stay tuned!!
This morning my good friend David Aurilio’s Facebook post appeared in my feed, and this is what it said:
A question from your friend The Universe:
Just how much time do you spend thinking big? I mean really, really BIG?
Good, very good! Because that’s exactly how much of “it” you’re going to get!
Are you thinking BIG today yogis? Do you have FAITH? Let’s take a deep breath together, exhale and let go of fear or whatever it is that is holding you back. Showing up in a small way is no longer an option – take ACTION!
Thank you, Denise Linn for the beautiful inspiration and messages from your Soul Coaching Oracle Cards!
Jun 14, 2017 |
Are you as excited as I am that summer is here? This new season should bring pleasurable thoughts about spending more time outside, lazy summer days at the beach, enjoying fresh food from the garden, and relaxing with friends. But last week instead of being full of joy, the thought of summer did nothing but stress me out. I kicked off my summer beach yoga classes which meant a complete change in schedule, concerns about the weather, and a lot of worry and distractions that kept me from being fully present.
Does this happen to you? If so, I have a quick and easy pranayama breathing routine to help you slow down, get grounded, let go of stress, and find the joy of being in the present moment. Want to try it? Follow these steps:
- Stand up tall in Tadasana (mountain) pose
- Place both hands at the center of the abdomen (approximately one inch above the belly button). Press the middle finger firmly into the abdomen as the other fingers gently rest there.
- Close the eyes.
- Take three slow, deep breaths, focusing on inhaling and exhaling completely.
After just three breaths a sense of calm and presence should prevail.
Don’t believe me, stand up, and give it a go! I shared this practice with my yoga classes last week and I saw a lot of blissed out, smiling faces after just three breaths. If you feel like you need more than three, take as many as you need.
When placing the fingertips on the area above the abdomen it connects us to the Manipura chakra, also called the solar plexus. This is your personal power center and where food, thoughts, and energy are digested and distributed throughout the body. Your ego and self-esteem reside here, so this is an excellent place to bring your hands to get connected back to the body and bring balance to this chakra.
So why does this work so quickly and effectively? The simple act of focusing on your breath will get you out of your mind and into your body and is calming to the central nervous system.
The funny thing about stress and worry is that most of it comes from things that we have no control over. I can’t control the weather or how the beach is going to be, so the simple act of stopping to breathe and connect with my core reminds me to let go of the struggle and be at peace. I did this a lot last week!
The beach looked great and people showed up for the first beach yoga class! Woo Hoo!
This exercise takes less than a minute, can be down anywhere, and is so powerful. Next time you are feeling stressed out, stop, pause, and breathe!
Sometimes all you need is three breaths.
My favorite part of beach yoga is connecting with friends each summer.
I’m sending hugs out to everyone who showed up for Beach Yoga and making it such an awesOMe first week. If you want to get outside this summer and feel the sun on your face and hear the sound of the waves as your practice, please check out the 2017 Summer Beach Yoga schedule and join me for a class.
Join Maria for a week of spiritual healing, adventure and BLISS in Bali next March!
The 2017-18 Yoga Teacher Training Program begins October 6.
Applications now being accepted.
