May 12, 2015 |
Have you ever noticed that every time you see an image of Buddha he is always smiling? Check it all of the images below; the man always has a big grin on his face.
Sometimes his eyes are open, but in most cases his eyes are closed as he is deep in meditation – deep in that place where the mind quiets, the worry about the past is gone, the anticipation about the future has been quelled. It’s that blissful state of peace that comes when one is truly present in the moment. I love that sweet little smile. It’s just a little bigger than the famous Mona Lisa smirk, but it speaks volumes of the joy that can be ours if we let go of suffering, and it is one I seek to emulate.
This past week with the presence of abundant energy from the Scorpio full moon, when I went to meditate I knew I 
would need to do something to clear the chatter in my mind. My preferred method of pre-meditation mind de-clutter is a robust round of bhramari breathing. After I finish bhramari I always bring my hands down to my knees, keep my eyes closed, and just let the yummy vibrations of the breath soak in. A very cool thing happened this week after I finished my practice: I noticed that this sweet little smile came across my lips, and I had the realization that I was experiencing none other than that sweet Buddha smile. Woo Hoo!
I couldn’t keep the Buddha smile all to myself, so this week in my yoga classes I taught bhramari breathing, and it was delightful to see the smiles sweep across the faces of my students as they sat in silence feeling the effects of the breath and enjoying the space in their quieted minds. If you would like to try it out for yourself and seek your inner Buddha smile, I have the directions posted here on the Daily Downward Dog.
Monday, May 4 was Wesak Day, a huge spiritual celebration that recognizes the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Guatama Buddha. So in honor of that, I infused many of my favorite Buddha quotes into the classes I taught. It is said the Buddha was the first human to attain enlightenment. He was full of wisdom, compassion, and teaching that can help us sentient beings to let go of our suffering.
Want to open your mind to the timeless truths Buddha had to offer? Here are a few quotes that for me, sum up his teachings, which tie very nicely to the practices of yoga.
“The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and earnestly.”
“Every morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.”
“There is no path to happiness; happiness is the path.”
“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”
“In the end
these things matter most:
How well did you love?
How fully did you live?
How deeply did you let go?”
“Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else;
you are the one who gets burned.”
“Attachment leads to suffering.”
“Nothing is forever except change.”
“Three things cannot hide for long: the Moon, the Sun and the Truth.”
“You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”
“The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There’s only one moment for you to live,
and that is the present moment”
“Set your heart on doing good. Do it over and over again, and you will be filled with joy.”
― Gautama Buddha
Buddha is definitely my go-to guy when I need some inspiration to find my inner smile. Take some time this week, yogis, to sit down, clear your mind, meditate, let go of attachment, seek compassion in your heart, and find that sweet little Buddha smile. When you find it, don’t forget to share it with all you meet.
I’ll go out with one more Buddhalicious quote that I wish for everyone….
“Meditate.
Live purely. Be quiet.
Do your work with mastery.
Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds!”
Shine.” – Guatama Buddha
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Mar 31, 2015 |
I have a confession to make: I got the inspiration for this post when I was in a bathroom. While in the WC I took the opportunity to check out the artwork hanging on the walls, and a lovely collage of magazine clippings all about yoga, love, and kindness caught my eye. Whenever I see a collage like this I’m always interested to see which phrase or image my eyes will gravitate to first.
On that particular day the phrase was – Create Your Own Loving Kindness Yogathon. This of course brought a huge, honking smile to my face and I thought to myself, “Wow, what a perfect instruction to get as I step on my yoga mat.”
Today I Will Create My Own Loving Kindness Yogathon
What is loving kindness? To me it means being compassionate, loving, and nurturing – letting go of all the negative energy, fear, stress, and stories pinging around in my head and instead making a wish that I be happy, healthy, safe, and live in ease. On the yoga mat it is practicing ahimsa, honoring the body, and being present.
The Loving Kindness Yogathon must start on your yoga mat, and then you can (and must) take the loving kindness off the yoga mat and into your life, continuing to spread the love to your friends, family, and all beings.
If I could boil this idea of a Loving Kindness Yogathan into a beautiful mantra, those words would be – I AM LOVE. I am not fear, I am not judgmen, I am not hate – I am Love.
You have the opportunity to create your own Loving Kindness Yogathon every time you step on your yoga mat and each and every morning when you wake up.
I’m digging this concept so much, I may just have to start calling my yoga retreats Loving Kindness Yogathons!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Thanks for stopping by the Daily Downward Dog today! I couldn’t let March go by without at least one blog post. I have so much to write about, but this year most of my spare time has been spent immersed in my 300 hr-yoga teacher training and some new yoga projects I am working on. Please be patient because, when I do have the time, I have lots of yoga inspiration and more loving kindness that I can’t wait to share with you.
Feb 10, 2015 |
The yoga teacher training program started up recently at Yoga Bliss Akron, and I got the opportunity to speak with quite a few of the trainees just before the program started. I wanted to wish them well and to tell them how excited I was for their journey. As I spoke to them, I could feel their sense of anticipation, and a few of them expressed that they were nervous about starting. That anxiousness is to be expected; anytime you start something new, there is always room for self-doubt and fear of the unknown. I asked each one of them to try to remember one word as they started their yoga teacher training journey, and that word was EASE.
Whenever you approach a situation from a place of fear, your heart closes off, and you are unable to learn. It is only when you open your heart and approach the situation from a place of ease that you can grow and blossom. Each time I told the trainees this one simple word, they all got a big smile on their face, and I could tell they picked up on the essence of approaching life from a place of ease.
I wish that I could say that those words of wisdom were my own idea, but I got the very same advice when I was starting out my advanced 300-hour yoga teacher training.
The very first day of training, Mary Pat Murphy – the goddess leading my training (and my very first yoga teacher!) – asked us to pick an intention card. The cards were spread out on the floor and we were to look at them for a moment and to pick one. Each card contained one word, and that word became our intention for the day. They say that if you really focus on the cards, that the one you are meant to have will be the one that you select. I know that can sound kind of hokey, but that day I did pick the exact card that I needed, and guess what it was?
Thank you universe, because “Ease” was just was the word I needed! As we went through that first day of training, my intention to take everything with a sense of ease came in very handy. When it was time to crack open the anatomy books, that is when the fear really started to kick in. Instead of telling myself, “Maria, you are horrible at anatomy. You’ll never get this stuff,” I started to deepen my breath and instead say to myself, “Ease, Maria, ease . . . approach this anatomy info from a place of love.” Now each time I pull out my anatomy book to study, my gluteus maximus no longer starts to clench, and my levator anguli oris, levator labii superioris, orbicularis oculi, risorius, and zygomaticus major muscles all start to flex to bring a big honking smile to my face.
Ease – it really does work. You can use it to destroy both self-doubt and fear.
Remember, yogis – on your yoga mats, off your yoga mats, right before a challenging situation, take a big breath, open your heart and tell yourself one word: ease!
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Jan 21, 2015 |
Last month, a lovely young woman named Erin showed up for one of my classes at Yoga Bliss Akron. She came up to introduce herself since she was new to the yoga studio, and I was immediately impressed by this really incredible energy about her. She proceeded to tell me that she had just won a national contest sponsored by Robek’s, which involved her taking a photo of herself showing how she stays healthy. She took a picture of herself in a yoga pose holding one of their smoothies, posted it to Instagram with the hashtag #GetHealthyWithRobeks, and ended up winning the contest.
That in itself is pretty remarkable since this was a national contest with hundreds of entries. But, what is even more remarkable is that the prize she won was her choice of a year-long membership to the fitness facility of her choice, and she chose a year-long unlimited yoga pass to Yoga Bliss!
Erin was already active with ballet dancing and had always wanted to start a yoga practice, so she was really excited about winning (understandably so) and starting her year-long yoga journey. The year started out with a lot of zeal. I saw Erin one evening at the studio, and she had just attended her fourth yoga class for the day – and that my friends is the beauty of having an unlimited yoga pass, you can take four classes in one day if you want!
Maria, Erin, and her friend Natalie at Yoga Bliss Akron.
Now I’ve been thinking a lot about Erin and the journey she is going to have this year on her yoga mat. I encouraged her to journal about the experience, and I also wrote down a few hopes that I have for her, which I shared in a recent class she attended. These hopes were not just for Erin; they were for all of my students because they are applicable no matter how many times you have stepped on your yoga mat.
Have Fun
Yes, it is important to be safe and in alignment in yoga asanas, but it’s also important to have fun on your yoga mat. It is OK to laugh, dance, sway your hips in the air in downward facing dog, and show off your jazz hands from time to time. Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras talks about friendliness, compassion, gladness, and joy when practicing yoga. Without these, we are not experiencing the true yoga of Patanjali. So, each time you come to your yoga mat, I hope that you seek joy, be friendly and compassionate with those you practice with, and don’t be afraid to bust out a few dance moves on your yoga mat.
Close Your Eyes
I know this is hard to do, especially when new to yoga, but I hope that you are able to find a few spaces during your yoga practice when you can close your eyes. I say this not so you can’t see, but rather so you can truly see within. When you close the eyes, you can focus on your breath, your body, and your divine. It is how I block out my ego – not looking around, not comparing, not judging – and when I can do this, I become fully present. Try it out in short spurts for a while, and eventually you will be able to do it more throughout the class. When you can block out the ego mind, let it all go, release the struggle, and truly relax, you become truly present in your body, and that is when the good stuff starts to happen. This is when your practice really starts to blossom!
Always Be a Beginner
No matter how long you practice yoga, there are always new things to learn. B.K.S. Iyengar said that once you think you have mastered a pose that is when you stop practicing yoga. I hope that as you continue on your yoga journey you always stay full of wonder, willing to learn and grow. Come to your yoga mat each time thinking, “What am I going to discover today?”
No Worries When You Don’t Make It to the Mat
I told Erin that there are going to be times in this next year when she doesn’t make it to the mat when she plans to. We all get busy. Life happens, but I stressed that she should not beat herself up when something holds her up from attending yoga class. Even on the busiest of days, you can always find a way to practice yoga. Perhaps take a few moments to sit, close your eyes, and focus on your breath. Or, simply do a kind deed for someone. Your yoga mat will always be there for you when you are ready to come back!
Practice Makes Perfect
I see this a lot with new students: a drive to perfect the yoga asanas and a lot of judgment about their lack of strength and flexibility. I always remind them that they have a lifetime to refine the poses and that they should enjoy the journey. Yes, we are all inherently driven to achieve perfection, and it is that drive that inspires us to improve. My hope, however, is that you can let go of the struggle and instead enjoy the practice. I love this quote from B.K.S. Iyengar: “Let the goal be to reach perfection, but to be content with a little progress toward perfection every day.”
And this one too! “Success will come to the person who practices.” – B.K.S. Iyengar
Live Your Yoga off the Mat
We learn a lot on our yoga mats, like the power of our breath, patience, the ability to offer compassion to ourselves and others, and truth. My hope for Erin is that at some point this year when she is off her mat that she has an aha moment, realizing that an action she has just taken was driven by something she learned on her yoga mat. Perhaps she is more patient with her parents, is more present with her friends and teachers, or uses her breathing to help her through a stressful situation. Yoga on the mat is awesome, but when you start living it off the mat, your life just gets sweeter.
The One Yoga Asana I Hope You Master
If you only focus on one yoga pose this year, try focusing on savasana. I know a lot of you are probably thinking, well how hard could that be? Savasana, if done properly, is by far one of the most challenging yoga poses because it requires you to lie still yet be fully present. When you can do this, completely let go and surrender to savasana, that is when the magic of your yoga practice will happen. Do yourself a favor this year and really focus on mastering savasana. Let all the goodness of the time spent on your mat soak into every cell of your body.
Erin, congratulations on your contest win, on your year of unlimited yoga, and on this fantastic yoga journey you are about to embark on! I am looking forward to watching it unfold.
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Dec 13, 2014 |
I’m all for shopping local, but how about putting a different spin on that and shopping goddess! Yeah, support a business that is owned and operated by a goddess, or a product that has been created by a goddess. I count myself blessed to know and work with so many incredible women,so here for your holiday gift shopping pleasure I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite yoga products produced by strong, smart, and talented yogini goddesses!
A Yoga DVD that Transports You to a
Bright Summer Day of Yoga in the Park.
Quite a few people have asked me if I have a yoga DVD that I sell. Not yet, but until I do, I highly recommend Freedom Yoga in Millenium Park with Alie McManus, an international yoga teacher who shares my enthusiasm and love of teaching outdoors. Alie teaches yoga in Chicago and during the summer she offers awesome yoga classes in Millenium Park. Last year she recorded three full (50-minute) classes that she taught there and you can just feel the sun shining down on you as you flow through sun salutations listening to her joyful cues.
If you are missing yoga on the beach, this DVD is for you. You can tell Alie is having fun leading the classes and her energy is contagious. If you are new to yoga she provides excellent instructions and these classes are accessible to all levels.
I first met Alie in Yellow Springs when I went there to study with Erich Schiffmann, who she has studied with extensively. I was thrilled when our paths crossed recently when we both attended a yoga class taught by Tao Porchon Lynch in Chicago. Next time you are in Chicago, check out a class with her at either Yogaview or Moksha.
Alie and Maria at Yogaview in Chicago
Give yourself the gift of yoga with an extra dosh of sunshine delivered by a beautiful goddess. You can purchase Alie’s DVD here!
How to Have The Best Day of Your Life
Today is going to be the best day of my life is one of my personal mantas, so you can imagine my delight when one of my yogini friends wrote a book with that title! In The Best Day of Your Life, Jennifer White, a fellow yoga teacher has penned a straight forward guide on how to have truly awesome days. In the 35 short chapters she provides great advice on topics like how to let things go, deal with jerks, become your own hero, deal with anger, and even how to own your inner bitch.
I’ve got this book on my night stand and I read it for inspiration. I love Jennifer’s no nonsense approach to the topics and the tools she provides to help tackle them. This is a great book for yoga teachers, and I’m sure it is going to inspire a yoga class theme or two in my future.
Woo hoo Jennifer – congratulations on getting your first book in print, and I’m sure there will be more to come! You can pick up your own copy of this book on Amazon.
The KIND MAT
It’s time to feel the yoga, not the floor, with a Kind Mat from VerniceVita. The yoga mat of all mats, which offers great grip with its a non-slip surface, is loaded with the comfort of memory foam to embrace every part of your asana practice. I started using my Kind Mat three years ago, and now my knees, wrists, and joints won’t let me practice on any other mat.
Stop the painful yoga routine associated with thin rubber mats and bring a new level of enjoyment and comfort to your yoga practice. Read my review of these mats, and then purchase your very own Vernice Vita right here on the Daily Downward Dog with a special $10 discount offer. Or, use code MARIA10 to save $10 at thekindmat.com.
The Kind Mat is the genius idea of Racheal Ennis, who I have the distinct pleasure of working with!
Hang Out at The Beach With Goddesses
Once the holidays are over, don’t let yourself settle into a funk. Kick the New Year off by giving yourself the gift of a yoga retreat. We’ll be setting intentions and saluting the sun each morning on my Beach Yoga Bliss retreat in Aruba in April 2015! The last two years Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa proved to be the perfect place for a beach yoga retreat, so why mess with a good thing? Enjoy seven days of yoga overlooking the crystal blue water and white sand beaches of Aruba from April 11-18, 2015. For more details on this retreat and to book your spot, contact The Travel Yogi, a company that is run by another yogini goddess in my life, Jennifer Hoddevick!
Buy Handmade and Change Women’s Lives
I love gifts that allow you to give in more ways than one. Each time you purchase a gift from Global Goods Partners, you are purchasing a handmade fair-trade product that is improving the economic status of women in marginalized communities around the world. From the comfort of your home, you get to shop for goods from 40 artisan groups from 20 different countries helping to employ over 3,000 women. 
Global Goods Partners has beautiful handmade gifts like these journals (which I gave to the participants in my Beach Yoga Bliss retreat last year) and a wide variety of jewelry, bags, scarves, and accessories. Please check out this site to help improve women’s lives around the world, shop responsibly through their online store, and donate to their fundraising programs.
Happy Holidays from The Daily Downward Dog!
