The Daily Downward Dog Blog
Inspiring Stories, Cool Yoga Playlists, and Yoga Tips!Letting Go of Fear
It is time to stop giving so much energy to fear. It is time to start manifesting dreams. I've been wanting to launch online videos of my yoga classes for a few years now. I tell myself that my busy schedule and time constraints are the reasons why I have...
Embracing Change
I am about to take on a huge change in my life. One that has me really anxious, worried, and over thinking what will happen. It is hard to change, especially when we get attached to the way things are. So what is this big change you ask? You may not think it is a big...
Kindness, Empathy, Love
Happy New Year! If you follow me on Instragram (@dailydownwarddog) you may have caught a few of the pictures I selected and posted to mark each day of December. I have had an incredible year and felt like I really needed to stop and look back at everything I did, and...
Workout While You Work!
As much as our society loves to multi-task, I really have never been a big fan. It's hard for me to do two things at once, and as a yogi, I do try to practice giving my full attention to one central point of focus. That being said, when the awesome folks at...
Better, Happier, Healthier Boobs
DO YOU WANT BETTER HEALTHIER HAPPIER BOOBS? A yoga retreat is a marvelous way to nurture yourself. With the rampant increase in breast cancer, I can think of nothing more powerful to learn about than how to nurture your breast health with Dr. Sharon Stills and me...
Yoga Wisdom: Warrior Tales Inspiring You On and Off Your Mat
Great title huh?! I wish I could claim it as mine, but it is the title of an awesome new book by my good friend Stephanie Spence also known as The Traveling Yogini. Stephanie and I met seven years ago through the burgeoning yoga blogging community and social media...
Celebrating 8 Years of Daily Downward Dog!
Woo Hoo - eight years ago today the Daily Downward Dog blog was launched (that's the original logo above)! It started out as quick little musings about my budding yoga practice and then blossomed into a place to share my yoga inspiration and details about...
The Sweet Joy of the Way
In a recent yoga class while teaching a challenging asana I cued the students to connect to their breath and let go of any struggle. I reminded them that life is not supposed to be a struggle, that we wake up each day and can decide to struggle or live in...
Sunset Choices
The picture above is from a Lake Erie sunset on Saturday, July 14. I’ve seen many sunsets over the lake and always marvel at how different each one is, but I’ve never seen one quite like this. This sunset was a sweet reminder of something important that I...
KennyAsana
I’m finally done unpacking my bags after leading a yoga retreat at the beautiful Sansara Surf and Yoga Resort in Panama and have so much I want to share. Anytime one travels there is an opportunity for growth and transformation, to get out of a comfort zone and learn...
Take the First Step
Did you set new goals or resolutions for 2018, or are you starting the new year with a big project in mind? Does it seem daunting or overwhelming? Are you letting fear keep you from even starting? The struggle to keep those resolutions is real, and I have to admit...
You (yes, you) Should Go on a Yoga Retreat
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...
Redheads, Red Rocks, Goddesses, and an OMazing Yoga Festival
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...
2017 Yoga Gift Guide
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...
Blessed Friday
It is the day before Thanksgiving and I’m sifting through my mail and my email box and can’t help but laugh at all the pre-pre-pre-Black Friday sales. I’ve always disliked the term “Black Friday” – it sounds so bleak, and really, how could any FriYAY be black? I...
‘Cause I Gotta Have Faith
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...
The Magic of Three Breaths
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...
Bali Life and Yoga Lessons – Part 1
Om Swastiastu my yogi friends! That is the way I was greeted in Bali, and it is a beautiful way to say hello and peace and greetings from God! In Bali, Om is the most important sound, and an Om starts every mantra, prayer, and ceremony, and it represents Brahma the...
Sunrise Life Lessons
During my last two yoga retreats I got the opportunity to teach a few sunrise beach yoga classes. Each class I lead is an opportunity to learn, but I must say the classes on the beach at sunrise were exceptionally good at teaching me the following life lessons. My...
Loving Kindness
Breathe In: May I Exhale Out: Be Happy Breathe In: May I Exhale Out: Be Healthy Breathe In: May I Exhale Out: Be Safe Breathe In: May I Exhale Out: Live in Peace Ready to change your mood with a tried and true meditation? Find a comfortable seated...
When the Student is Ready…
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." I love these words from Buddha, and they have rung true in my life and yoga journey. When I needed yoga to heal my back pain caused by scoliosis, I found my teacher in Mary Pat Murphy. I had been told about yoga...
Retreat to the Beach!
Sing it with me, "I don't want to work, I just want to yoga on the beach all day!" Before summer slips away, it's time to take a well deserved retreat to the beach. If you live in northeast Ohio, Lake Erie has beautiful beaches, and I am blessed to share beach yoga on...
Summer of Love
Woo hoo! Summer has arrived and along with it a host of fun outdoor activities (like beach yoga) and so many things to do that yoga, and especially meditation practices can get pushed off the to-do list. This summer I've decided to make a dedication to my meditation...
Hours of Relaxation
I frequently mention in my yoga classes the importance of nurturing and taking good care of yourself, getting enough rest and sleep, and doing things that are enjoyable and bring you pleasure. I heeded my own advice recently and pampered myself with a complimentary...
Let it Go!
It's been a few months since I returned from my yoga retreat in Sedona and the experience of sharing two yoga workshops at the Sedona Yoga Festival. I feel really blessed to have visited such a beautiful place and to have these opportunities and I wanted to share a...
JOMO
Are you familiar with the acronym FOMO? This terms was introduced to me recently, and it describes a mental state that most of us are familiar with, the Fear of Missing Out. Let's face it, there are just too many channels begging for our attention these days, so it is...
Pictures of Yoga In Paradise
Wow, since last April it has been a crazy awesOMe year full of many blessings, new yogi friends, spiritual growth, and incredible yoga trips and adventures around the world. All of this goodness has kept me blissfully busy, so much so that I have been remiss in...
Messages from the Universe – Bali Calling
I’m a big believer in listening to messages from the universe. In fact, I’ve written about this subject many times here on The Daily Downward Dog. It is a concept I originally picked up during a workshop with Erich Schiffmann, where he taught us to sit in meditation...
The Power of Intention
I haven't written much about my 300-hour yoga teacher training, primarily because ever since it began in September of 2014 I have been so immersed in yoga study that there hasn't been time left for writing. It was a 17-month spiritual journey that transformed the way...
Redhead in the Red Rocks!
Woo hoo...the energy of the Red Rocks in Sedona, Arizona have long been calling my name, and I'm super excited to announce that this Redhead is heading to the Red Rocks and I hope you will join me! Are you ready for a week of yoga, meditation, kirtan, mantra, healing,...