Last week I got to hear four blissful words that I never hear my husband say:

Let’s Go Do Yoga!

Just the sound of those precious words coming from his lips was enough to make my heart swell with delight. I love my husband and I love yoga, but my husband does not practice yoga, so to get to share some time with him on a mat is one sweet, yogalicious treat!

Our yoga date was not a typical hour-long asana class, but rather a two-hour partner Thai yoga massage class led by the awesome Tracy Rhinehart, who expertly guided the couples through the fine art of Thai massage, which has been affectionately dubbed “lazy man’s yoga.”

Many of the maneuvers Tracy took us through were familiar asanas to me, so I loved hearing my husband exclaim what a great stretch he was getting in his back when I gently guided him into an assisted bhugangasana (cobra pose) and seeing his relaxed smile as I assisted him into a gentle supta matsyendrasana (reclined twist).

It will probably be a while before I get him to come to another yoga class with me, so I will savor the memories of this stellar experience. I know that each time he gets a little taste of how awesome yoga is, his appetite and curiosity will continue to grow. And he knows that I will always have a yoga mat ready for him!

I want to give a big shout-out and hug to Tracy for hosting this class at YogaBliss Akron and for providing the yummy chocolate and wine afterward. You can book Tracy for your very own Thai massage or private yoga session, or if you live in the Akron/Cleveland area be sure to attend a yoga class with her.

If any of you have tips on how you get your partner or friend to the yoga mat – and, more importantly, hooked on the practice – I’m all ears, so please leave a comment below.

Savasanaaaaahhhhh!

A Sweet Yoga Treat (and Challenge) for You!

I love a good challenge. And, if it is a yoga related challenge, all the better! This week, I decided to take Cora Wen’s 30-day Savasana Challenge. All you have to do is commit to resting for 15 minutes every day for the next 30 days. The actual challenge started on February 14, but it’s not too late to join in. You can get all of the details on Cora’s blog. When you leave comments on the 30-day Savasana post and share your savasana experiences, you are also entered to win some really cool prizes, including a Vernice Vita yoga mat that makes your savasana experience even more yogalicious with its middle layer of memory foam comfort.

Cora Wen and Anna

Anna Guest-Jelly of CurvyYoga.com, Cora Wen, and Maria in Cleveland, Ohio

Blissed out after a day of yoga workshops led by Cora!

To quote Cora:

“Just 15 minutes of savasana a day can help you find that peace within and gain access to the space in between your thoughts. There, according to wisdom traditions, you find the window to the infinite mind and the mystery that some people call spirit or core consciousness.

The reason for restorative yoga isn’t so you can get away from it all, but that you can get in touch with it all.”

So, in other words, we’re not slacking when we rest in savasana; we are seeking peace and plugging into our consciousness for a few minutes, which is a great way to unplug from our phones and the internet for a refreshing change.

Please join me in this awesome challenge!