Dec 4, 2014 |
This article first appeared on Elephant Journal back on December 6, 2012. It carries a message that is near and dear to my heart, so I thought I would dust it off and share it again.
A few years ago I attended a sold-out yoga workshop given by Kathryn Budig, an internationally known yoga instructor, foodie, and animal lover. Kathryn is living a life I dream of: writing, teaching and practicing yoga around the globe with the perfect accessory, a major book deal tucked into the back pocket of her Lululemon yoga pants.
Kathryn unassumingly walked her petite, well-toned body into the room, perfectly accessorized with a smile and pearl mala beads, looking super-cool in a well worn vintage Journey t-shirt. With a great deal of humor and enthusiasm, she began her talk, and right away she told us her goal in life: to live an awesome life.
Holy crap, that’s my goal too!
You can imagine my delight when she clued us in on how to do just that.
One of Kathryn’s yoga DVD’s is themed around “Aiming True” in our lives. What is aiming true? It is all about making the choice to move from a place of fear to a place of love. When we embrace fear, we experience anticipation, expectation, dread and doubt. And guess what? According to Kathryn, this nasty anticipation stuff is what freaks us out. When we can let go of fear, we can move to a place of love and embrace the present moment.
When we let go of fear, we start believing in ourselves, and that is when the awesomeness begins to happen. (If Kathryn doesn’t have a theme song yet, I’m thinking “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey would do.) The cool thing about this “Aim True” concept is that you can apply it to just about any life situation, not just those on a yoga mat. Here are a few simple ways to give this Aim True stuff a try in your life:
1. Sunday night meditation.
I don’t know about you, but most Sunday nights I start getting a little knot in my stomach as I start worrying about all the responsibilities of the coming week. This Sunday night (and every night and morning, for that matter), stop for a moment and take a few deep breaths, let go of the anticipation of what is to come, let go of the fear of what might happen, and just live peacefully in that present moment. Because right here, right now, according to Kathryn, is perfect.
I asked Kathryn if she gets the knots on Sunday night, and yes, she does experience these moments. But she applies her “Aim True” philosophy, and instead of dread, Kathryn focuses on how much she loves her job, how great she feels when she has completed a workshop, and how much she knows the students enjoyed it.
“My duty is to be my best, to show up as the best version of myself. It’s easy to get caught up in our own little bubble of insecurities and fears, and we need to break out of that bubble and venture out into the world. I’m grateful for the gift of travel, but most importantly, I’m so thankful for my traveling because it makes me realize how wonderful my life already is,” Kathryn explained.
I have started to teach a yoga class on Sunday nights at Yoga Bliss Akron called Sunday Night Relax and Recharge that is aimed at bringing a sense of peace and calm through an asana practice that consists of gentle stretching, restorative poses and deep meditation. The class is from 4:45-6:00 PM if you want to check it out.
2. Make a love (pros)/fear (cons) list.
What is it that you want in life? What do you dream about doing? What is holding you back? Is it fear, self-doubt, or worry about what others think? Whatever it is, write it down and then make a column with all of the good things (what you love about it, what it will bring to your life) and then make a column and list all the things holding you back from the dream (worry that you are not good enough, fear of the unknown). Study the two columns and then make a choice.
Are you going to embrace the love or the fear?
I went through this scenario when I was planning my first beach yoga travel retreat. I was letting fear paralyze me and allowing myself to fill up with self-doubt, and then, thankfully, I had an ‘a-ha!’ moment. I told myself, “WTF Maria! Did you not listen to a word of what Kathryn said at that workshop? Are you going to let the fear keep you from your dreams, or are you going to aim true and choose a place of love?”
I shut down the fire hose of fear and self-doubt in my mind, got to work, and guess what? I held my first beach yoga retreat in Aruba in April of 2013, and in 2014 I led yoga retreats in Stowe, Vermont and my second Beach Yoga Bliss Retreat in Aruba. In 2015 I am thrilled to be going back to the gorgeous white sand beaches of Aruba for my third Beach Yoga Bliss Retreat and in September I will be hosting a yoga retreat in Santorini, Greece.
So what’s it gonna be for you? One of the great things about life is that you have a choice.
Make loving and believing in yourself become a personal mantra, one you repeat to yourself each and every day. You can either stay in the fear camp, or you can come join me and Kathryn over at the love camp. Become the master or mistress of your mind, stop making excuses, start living out your dreams and enjoying a truly awesome life. I’m here to tell you that when you let go of the fear, life is way more awesome!
The theme and mantra for my 2015 yoga retreats is “I Am Love,” and together we’ll learn how to live that mantra, letting go of fear, stress, or whatever is keeping you from living out your intentions and opening the heart wide open to love.
Are you ready to nurture your spirit, refuel with positive energy, and find your bliss? If the answer is yes, please join me in either Aruba or Santorini next year! The deadline to reserve your space for Aruba is February 11, so don’t delay! The awesome team at The Travel Yogi is ready to help you make your reservation for either retreat.
Nov 25, 2014 |
The secret to happiness is doing what you love. The secret to success is loving what you do.
I have to admit that right now, I am REALLY HAPPY! I am absolutely loving what I do and I’m really excited to announce upcoming yoga workshops and new yoga classes that I am blessed to be able to share.
Essential Oils & Yoga Workshop
This Saturday, November 29, I am teaming up with my good friend, Kathleen Merk, to lead an Essential Oils and Yoga Workshop at Yoga Bliss Akron from 1-3 PM. I have been using essential oils like peppermint to relieve my headaches, using a diffuser at night with lavender essential oil to bring me to a peaceful sleep, and rubbing frankincense on my feet before meditation to keep me focused and centered.
The use of essential oils to heal and complement yoga practice is nothing new, in fact, it dates back thousands of years and originated in India with sandalwood and vetiver to aid in developing the mind for meditation, and creating a healthy balance between the mind, body, and spirit.
The essential oils used during this workshop are uplifting yet calming and will remind you of the importance of taking the time to nurture yourself and practice loving kindness. You’ll leave the workshop relaxed, refreshed, and with your very own pack of sample oils and a booklet with tips on how to effectively use each oil for improved physical and emotional health. If you have been curious about the benefits of essential oils, please join me and doTERRA Wellness Advocate Kathleen Merk for this Essential Yoga Workshop. All levels are welcome. Workshop fee is $35.
Register early as space is limited and you can register online through the Yoga Bliss website. If you are interested in this workshop and would like details on how to bring it to your workplace, meeting, or yoga studio, please contact Maria.
Do What You Love and Do it Often!
(this means do YOGA more often!!)
Yoga in Vermilion, Ohio
The winter yoga classes in Vermilion are in full swing, and no, they are not on the beach, but inside in a warm and groovy space in the library of Sailorway Middle School. I’ll be there on select Saturdays in December and New Years Eve and I just announced dates for the January and February classes as well as these special classes and workshops
New Years Eve Yoga & Meditation, December 31 | 3:00 PM
NEW Beginners’ 5-Week Series begins January 3 | 8:15-9:15 AM
Essential Oils & Yoga Workshop on Friday, February 6 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM
The Yoga of Bob Marley, Saturday, January 31 | 6-8 PM
Click here to see the full schedule of class dates in Vermilion.
NEW CLASSES AT YOGA BLISS
I am super excited that the schedule for the Ganesha (non-heated) Studio at Yoga Bliss Akron has expanded with lots of new class offerings every day of the week. I am teaching a few of the new Gentle Flow classes that are now offered on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:45 AM and a new class on Sunday nights called Sunday Night Stretch and Unwind.
On Sunday nights do you start to get stressed out thinking about the week to come? If this sounds like you, this class will help you unwind, quiet the mind, and relax. I start with a grounded and healing asana practice combined with meditative breathing to help you redirect your prana (energy) and breath into releasing tension and stress from the body. The second portion of class focuses on deeper, restorative stretches and meditation – each week a different and new experience from guided, silent, mantra, yoga nidra, breath work, and moving will be explored. This practice will quiet the mind and prepare you for a restful sleep so you can flow into the coming week with peace, clarity, and inspiration. The Ganesha Studio will be dimly lit and filled with peaceful music. All levels welcome.
I AM LOVE YOGA RETREATS
Don’t tell people your dreams, show them!
I show (and live) my dreams each year when I get to host yoga retreats on the most beautiful beaches in the world. In April of 2015 I will be hosting my 3rd Beach Yoga Bliss retreat in Aruba, and in September I’ll be leading another retreat in Santorini, Greece.
Our mantra each of these weeks will be “I Am Love,” and together we’ll learn how to live that mantra, letting go of fear, stress, or whatever is keeping you from living out your dreams and finding your bliss.
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Oct 24, 2014 |
I had the opportunity this summer to provide yoga assists at one of the coolest yoga events I’ve ever attended. A group called BelieveinCLE was formed in 2013 to bring together yogis throughout northern Ohio in some pretty sweet venues to collectively raise the vibration and LOVE for Cleveland (and yoga). This particular event on Mall B in downtown Cleveland was part of the welcoming kick-off ceremonies for the Gay Games, and there were over 2,000 yogis in attendance for an awesome yoga practice. As the sun set, we witnessed a rainbow of laser lights shining over us and the downtown skyline.
Photo courtesy of Shel Jane Greenberg Ginger*Snapshot Photography
As I walked through the yoga mats offering assists, I noticed a rather large young man dressed in attire looking more ready to step onto a football field than a yoga mat. He was coming into trikonasana rather awkwardly (which I say without judgment, but with a loving heart), so I walked up next to him and offered an assist to bring him into the proper alignment in the pose. As I helped him lift his right arm up, his body flowed into a graceful ease. He enthusiastically thanked me for the assist and proceeded to tell me that this was his very first yoga class. I congratulated him on picking such an opportune first class and assured him that he was doing great and to keep smiling and enjoying himself.
More than midway through the class I saw him again, and from the look on his face I could tell that fatigue was setting in. I caught his eye and gave him a thumbs-up for encouragement, and he nodded back with a smile.
As the class was winding down and the yogis were coming into savasana, I saw the young man and went over to help adjust his shoulders. As I did, I said to him, “Congratulations, you made it through your very first yoga class!” He got a huge grin on his face and said to me, “I think my life has changed tonight!” I started to laugh and teasingly told him to watch out, that yoga can become contagious, and that I could foresee him wanting to practice all the time. He just smiled, nodded his head, and said, “Yeah I think so too.”
YOGA … IT HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM YOU
The power of yoga can change your life! I’ve always known this, but it was a beautiful reminder to see the blissed out faces of so many yogis that night and to hear it confessed so truthfully by someone who probably never imagined he would step on a yoga mat, let alone to end up liking it so much.
Believe me when I tell you the yogis who assembled that night brought
enough wattage to light up the Terminal Tower like this!
I’m sure the incredible yoga class led by Inner Bliss YogaStudio owner, Tammy Lyons and Adam Tilocco, the rockin playlist, and the combined energy and beauty of that night had a lot to do with his life-changing declaration, but you can’t deny that the unifying element is the practice itself. This yoga practice is truly transformational.
Open your hearts yogis. Come to your yoga mats each time like you are a beginner, ready and open to experience, to learn, to breathe, to grow, to be transformed by the power of yoga and let it change your life.
A big glitter hug and Thank You to Shel Jane Greenberg Erba for sharing her lovely photography with me! I highly recommend you take a yoga class with her at One Love Yoga in Kent, Ohio!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Sep 27, 2014 |
Before the month of September is over, I want to bring attention to the fact that it is National Recovery Month. If you or someone you know has ever dealt with addiction of any form – be it drugs, alcohol, food, smoking, or gambling – and are looking for tools to help overcome these addictions, I hope you will consider the practice of yoga and meditation.
On October 21, a book called Recovery 2.0 is being released. It’s by Tommy Rosen, an internationally-recognized yoga teacher and addiction recovery expert, who has spent the last two decades immersed in yoga, recovery, and wellness. Recovery 2.0 is not a how-to book, but rather an exploration of what recovery is – and why yoga and meditation is so important to the process. I absolutely love this book for two reasons: Tommy is a great storyteller who shares his stories so honestly, and Recovery 2.0 is full of inspiration and hope.
I first met Tommy back in 2013 when I attended the Tadasana Festival in Los Angeles. Not only was Tommy one of the co-founders of this event; he was one of the featured teachers along with his wife Kia Miller. I recently got on the phone with Tommy to hear the story about how we came to yoga and how his book Recovery 2.0 came to fruition.
In the late ’80s, Tommy sought help for his drug addiction, and through the 12-step program, therapy, and much support, he has been sober for over 20 years now.
With three months of sobriety under his belt, he was drawn into an Iyengar yoga class where he witnessed the yoga teacher moving with grace and elegance. This instructor was bending into a shape that was so flexible, he felt as if he was watching a cartoon, but he was attracted to the freedom he saw in physical form. Despite his body being tight and full of tension, he decided to try it. He remembers the sweat just pouring off of him in those early practices, but he had finally found the freedom in his body and mind that he had been seeking.
After about 10 years pass, Tommy was still practicing yoga, but was in a lot of trouble emotionally. He felt still stuck in the frequency of addiction, acting it out in other ways such as gambling and smoking. His body started to break down again, and he started to experience low back pain to the point that he was nearly crippled for a year. His doctors told him it was a condition he would deal with for the rest of his life with either drugs or surgery.
Fortunately, at this time Tommy was introduced to Guru Prem, a master of Kundalini yoga. Guru Prem explained that very few people really know how to breathe. We get stuck breathing shallow and have no real connection to our breath. After 90 days of practicing Kundalini yoga and its breathing methods, along with eating a cleaner diet, Tommy’s back pain went away and has stayed away without drugs or surgery, but rather through holistic healing.
So, needless to say, Tommy is a huge advocate of yoga and meditation as an important tool in the process of overcoming addiction and leading a fuller and happier life.
Tommy told me that when he went to pick up his pin to commemorate his twentieth year of sobriety, he was told, “Congratulations, you are 1 in 1000 [of people who make it to 20 years of sobriety].” This comment really resonated with him, and I’m sure it’s a big reason why he is so committed to helping others stay sober.
He went from a state of not being able to imagine a day without drugs and alcohol to a state where he couldn’t imagine a day WITH drugs or alcohol, and that massive shift was a huge blessing for him.
The book looks at addiction and the best practices for overcoming it. It’s about changing the perception of Alcoholics Anonymous because a lot of people think it is about sitting in a basement, smoking and eating donuts. Tommy provides real tips on how to get the best of the 12-Step teachings and community, daily practices in breathing, meditation, and yoga, and healthy diet recommendations designed to boost immunity, increase vitality, support recovery, and prevent relapse. All of this is done in an inspirational way so that those in recovery can thrive and live a life second to none.
I know a lot of people think and dream about about writing a book, a smaller percentage actually get off their butts and write one, and just a few lucky ones get the thrill of seeing the finished product in print. It has got to be the most incredible feeling to flip through the pages of your very own book. That is why I love this picture of Tommy holding Recovery 2.0 for the very first time. The smile on his face tells it all. This is a man full of joy, living the fullest life possible!
Tommy told me that it took about 14 months after receiving the book deal to finalize it, but in essence the book took 47 years to write because he had to do the work spiritually to get where he is today. He struggled quite a bit writing the book because it covers such an important topic, one he didn’t want to mess up. Tommy, you should be proud of what you have created!
I have two copies of Recovery 2.0 that I would love to get in the hands of someone in need. Please leave a comment below, and I will select two people to receive the book at 11:11 AM on October 1, 2014. This giveaway is limited to residents of the United States.
If you would like to order the book or learn more about the work Tommy is doing, here are a few links:
Preorder Recover 2.0 – it will be available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble after October 21.
Visit TommyRosen.com
Check out Tommy’s Recovery 2.0 Online Conferences that have gone global in over 100 countries. If you missed them, they are available to stream online. The next one is planned for January 2015.
Tommy will be hitting the road to promote the release of Recovery 2.0 in these towns:
Sunday, October 19 | Workshop & Book Signing | 1:00 – 5:00 PM
YOGA SOURCE | Davie, FL (3510 University Dr.)
Link: http://tickets.brightstarevents.com/event/TommyRosen
Wednesday, October 22|Workshop 4:00 – 6:00 PM | Book Signing 6:30
KUNDALINI YOGA BOSTON | Cambridge, MA (14 Arrow St.)
Thursday, October 23| Reading & Book Signing 7:00 – 10:00 PM
BARNES & NOBLE | Santa Monica, CA (3rd Street Promenade)
Saturday, November 1| Book Signing 4:00 PM
BOOK PASSAGE | Corte Madera, CA (51 Tamal Vista Blvd.)
Sunday, November 2 | Workshop & Book Signing 1:15 – 4:15 PM
YOGA TREE CASTRO | San Francisco, CA (97 Collingswood at 18th)
Contact: Nick Utley 415.800.8582 nick@yogatreesf.com
https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ASP/home.asp?studioid=-45
Wednesday, November 5 | Reading & Book Signing with Mackenzie Phillips
PASADENA RECOVERY CENTER | Pasadena, CA (1811 N Raymond Ave.)
Friday, November 7 | Reading & Book Signing
NEW METHOD WELLNESS | Orange County, CA (31473 Rancho Viejo Rd.)
Fingers crossed that Tommy will come to the birthplace of AA as part of his book tour and visit us in Akron, Ohio!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Aug 10, 2014 |
Who doesn’t want to escape to an island for a few days to get away from it all, soak up some sun, sip fruity drinks, and have a few adventures? Better yet, how cool would it be to attend a yoga retreat while visiting such an island?
If you live in northeast Ohio, you don’t have to travel to the Caribbean to find this simple pleasure; you can hop on a ferry boat in Sandusky and be on idyllic Kelleys Island in less than 20 minutes. So pack your bags, leave your cares and car behind, and hop on the ferry for the Kelleys Island Yoga and Wellness Retreat this coming September 11–14, 2014.
It may only be 22 miles from the mainland, but once you step foot on the island, surrounded by the beautiful blue water of Lake Erie, you will feel like you are on a faraway vacation.
The weekend kicks off on Thursday with a 2-day reflexology workshop led by Amanda Conn, and then on Friday the beach yoga and meditation classes begin. You can come up just for the day for some yoga and island adventure or come for the whole weekend. Here are just a few great reasons why you should consider trying the island life!
Hop on the ferry and enjoy the blueasana on the way over to Kelleys Island
Daytripper. You don’t have to come for the whole weekend. If you like you can head over for just the day or a few of the classes or activities. There is an early-bird discount if you purchase the package of all the yoga and meditation classes before August 15, but each yoga class and the other activities can be purchased separately.
Goddess Tracy Rhinehart. I’m thrilled that yogini goddess Tracy Rhinehart is going to be joining me again this summer. Tracy will be offering Thai Massage and Body Wisdom consultations on Friday and Saturday. Tracy was completely booked on last year’s retreat! So contact her soon to set up your appointment at 216-551-0707, or email trhinehart108 at gmail.com. Tracy is also going to co-teach one of the Saturday beach yoga classes with me!
Community. I got so busy last year after the retreat that I never got a chance to write about how much fun we had and the amazing group of goddesses who joined together for the weekend. There were lots of giggles around the campfire, more midnight giggles in the camping tents, gourmet fire-grilled sandwiches and banana boats, trips to the local wineries, shared breakfasts, and new friendships forged. Best of all there was plenty of time to just relax, enjoy the beach, unwind, and feed the soul.
Looking for a place to stay on the island? The Kelleys Island Venture Resort
is right next door to where the yoga retreat classes will be held.
This is the view from the beach deck in front of the Kelleys Island Venture Resort.
Yoga With a View! Last year Mother Nature provided brilliant variety as we practiced yoga and meditated as the sun rose and set, while it rained, and while the waves were crashing up on the beach making us feel like we were on the shores of the ocean rather than Lake Erie. This year on Kelleys Island, the yoga classes will also be held rain or shine. When the sun is shining we will practice on the lawn across the street from the Kelleys Island Brew Pub with an outstanding view overlooking Lake Erie. In case of rain, the yoga sessions will be held in the historic Town Hall on Kelleys Island.
This lovely angel overlooks the area where the yoga classes will be held!
Food! The Kelleys Island Brew Pub will have food and drink specials all weekend for the yogis who attend and are also hosting a special brunch on Sunday to benefit the Humane Society. 
Explore! When you are not on your yoga mat or dancing up a storm,there is so much to do on the island. You can take a bike ride around the island with gorgeous views of the lakes, explore the glacier grooves that were formed about 18,000 years ago, visit and try out the wines at the Kelleys Island Wine Company, shop for souvenirs, and sip the island’s signature drink, the Brandy Alexander.
Don’t delay – get your reservations made at one of the many fine bed and breakfasts, hotels, or the state campground. Remember to book ahead if you want a session with Tracy. And then kick back and get ready for Kelleys Islandasana!
Hope to see you on Kelleys Island this September – and maybe next year on another island a little farther away in Santorini, Greece!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
