Dec 16, 2013 |
Hard to believe, especially here in Ohio, that the first day of winter is this coming Saturday. With the weather we’ve been having, you would have thought winter was halfway over.
After the summer is over, I start to go into a serious funk that starts with the first time I have to put on socks, to saying goodbye to green grass, to barely seeing the light of day when you wake up in the dark and go home from work in the dark.
I crave sunshine, live to be outdoors, and one of my favorite days each year is the one where I can ditch the socks and set my toes free in sandals. I think that is one of the reasons I love teaching yoga so much: I work in a heated room where the dress code is barefoot!
Last week I experienced one of the days of the year I dread, the first time I have to clean the snow off of my car. It was made even more special by the fact I was not properly dressed to face these wintry conditions.
The first day of winter – aka the winter solstice, the darkest day of the year – is this Saturday, December 21. I used to get really bummed out on this day, but now I’ve come to realize that it’s actually something to be celebrated. Yes, celebrated, because on December 22 we can look forward to the daylight hanging out with us a little bit longer.
I’m also using this shift in the seasons to go within and do some spiritual cleansing. Thankfully there is a winter solstice cleanse program being led by Gretchen Horinger at Yoga Bliss Akron to guide me through the experience.
During the next week I’ll be getting up early to practice yoga, meditate and chant, and eat a healthy vegetarian diet. I’ll also be giving up coffee, wine, and sweets. These actions are meant to create a lightness that will allow me to let go of the darkness of this year. I’m planning a lot of time to be inwardly attentive and, with the space created from letting go, to bring in new light and inspiration for the new season and year to come.
I started my cleanse on Saturday, but if you live in the area and want to participate in the Yoga Bliss program, you can begin a 3-day cleanse with the group on Thursday, December 19. Believe me when I say that the discipline this type of program takes is much easier when you have the support of a community of fellow yogis.
Also of note, this Tuesday, December 17, is a full moon, another powerful time to stop, go inward, reflect, and listen to the universe. I’m planning on going outside as long as I can Tuesday night to let the moon shine its gorgeous light on me, and you can bet we’ll be doing moon salutations in my yoga classes this week.
Full moon photo courtesy of Alison Harris Jaggers
(taken during a beach yoga full moon class this summer in Vermilion)
Don’t let the darkness of this time of year get you down. Instead, let the darkest day of the year become one of the brightest by letting go of the past, celebrating the rebirth of this season, and opening up your heart to the abundance of light, love, and peace to come.
If you live in northeast Ohio you can celebrate with me on Saturday!
WINTER SOLSTICE YOGA CLASS with LIVE MUSIC
Come celebrate the winter solstice with a yoga practice to create inner
lightness and help you let go of the darkness from this past year. We’ll
celebrate the light through yoga, meditation, community, and I’m thrilled to say
we’ll have live acoustical guitar and violin music from
Sid Jordan and Ayden Ash.
The class will be held at the Community Room
Vermilion School Board offices
1230 Beechview Drive, Vermilion, Ohio
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM
Vermilion Class Fee: $8 for Vermilion School employees, or $10 per class, Eight class passes available for $64
*****
SKIASANA – Jan 15-19, 2014
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 before hitting the gorgeous snow-covered mountains in Stowe, Vermont, on my SKIASANA Yoga Retreat. You don’t have to be a skier to come with us; there will be plenty of wintry outdoor activities, the chance to learn how to knit, meditation sessions, exploration in the quaint village of Stowe, and incredible food prepared by graduates of the prestigious New England Culinary Institute. There are only a few rooms left so contact The Travel Yogi soon for booking details.
Dec 11, 2013 |
On the last night of my 2013 Beach Yoga Bliss retreat, after finishing an incredible dinner that the staff at Manchebo Beach Resort had set for us at a beachside table, the group of beautiful yoginis who attended were anxious to hear where I would host my next retreat. Lots of suggestions crossed the table that night, and it warmed my heart to know that they all wanted to experience another beach yoga getaway with yours truly.
I am an adventurer at heart and had lots of thoughts in mind for the next retreat – Costa Rica, Turks and Caicos, Santorini – but my heart kept calling me back to the gorgeous white sand beaches of Aruba and the excellent yoga accommodations at Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa. You just can’t find a prettier open-air pavilion and yoga deck right on the beach to experience the sublime experience of seaside yoga.
Now I’m thrilled to announce that I will be hosting my next Beach Yoga Bliss retreat in Aruba, April 22–27 2014 at Manchebo Beach Resort. This one will be a six-day/five-night retreat, and I’m planning some new adventures like a hike up to Aruba’s highest point to greet the sun and the majesty of the sea with a sunrise yoga and meditation session on top of the mountain. I’ll also be working with Aruba’s best tour guide, Jovita, to plan an excursion to parts of the island we didn’t hit last time around. And the good stuff like snorkeling on the sunset sail and standup paddleboarding (SUPYoga) are still on the itinerary!
Snorkeling in the crystal blue Caribbean Sea was a real treat!
There is so much to explore on the island of Aruba.
Imagine starting your day with yoga overlooking crystal clear blue Caribbean waters and a pristine white sand beach, feeling the tropical winds sweep across your face and hearing the sound of waves as you drift into a peaceful meditation. Or, spend your days with nothing on your to-do list but relaxing on the beach, napping, taking a stand-up paddle board lesson, enjoying tasty tropical drinks by the pool, exploring the tropical island, getting a spa treatment, and watching a stunning sunset.
A yoga retreat is a gift of renewal you can give to yourself – a well-deserved break to decompress, recharge, and reconnect to your bliss. Come get revitalized, immerse yourself in your yoga practice, set and realize dreams, and make new friendships. Each day will start with an inspirational and joyful yoga class followed by meditation and time to journal. Your afternoons are your own to relax or fill with activities like hiking to a natural pool (by way of Boka Keto, one of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve ever seen).
I had a religious experience on Boca Keta beach – it is absolutely magical.
Each evening we’ll reconvene for a gentle yoga and meditation session as the sun gets ready to set over the sea. If you love the beach and yoga, then this retreat is for you. All levels are welcome! Come along on a journey to feed your soul, to laugh, to be inspired, to be in awe of the natural beauty of the sea, and ultimately, to find your bliss as you dip your toes in the sand and experience the utter delight of practicing yoga on a beach.
Restorative Yoga right before the sunset – can you say YOGALICIOUS!
Here’s what participants from last year’s retreat had to say about Beach Yoga Bliss:
“What an amazing balance of rest, reflection, & adventure. Truly the best vacation I’ve ever taken! The joy has continued to bubble through life this week!” – Esther Lutes
Take your yoga practice to a whole new level.
“I feel very fortunate to have been able to spend time in Aruba doing exactly what we did. Maria, there could not have been a better yogini teacher to take that trip with. Your energy and zeal is infectious! I took a sense of peace back from the trip that I think of when life just gets hectic. Could not have asked for a better group of ladies. By far the best vacation I’ve ever been on! I especially enjoyed getting to do yoga daily compared to my once a weekend.” – Grace Evans
Check out more pictures and read about the 2013 Aruba retreat here: https://dailydownwarddog.com/top-10-reasons-why-beach-yoga-bliss-in-aruba-rocked/
Making new friends!
To book your 2014 Beach Yoga Bliss retreat to Aruba, or simply get more information about journeying with me, visit The Travel Yogi.
Let these gorgeous white sand beaches call your name!
If the beach isn’t calling your name, check out my SKIASANA – yoga, meditation & ski retreat in Stowe, Vermont – January 15-19, 2014.
Nov 29, 2013 |
So, today is Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year. I’ve always disliked the term “Black Friday” – it sounds so bleak. I kept telling everyone to not go shopping, but to instead go to a yoga class to make it Beautiful Friday.
If you are curious about this term “Black Friday,” there are several stories behind the origins, but the one that has become most prevalent is tied to retailers, where Black Friday indicates the point at which they typically begin to turn a profit, or are “in the black.” This terminology has always confused me, because “in the black” never sounded like a good thing to me.
All this Black Friday nonsense got me thinking about when we have our own personal Black Friday. In other words – what time of the year does our spiritual well-being really start to prosper to a point where we begin to reap the benefits from it?
Do you feel like you’re “in the black” in terms of spiritual well-being?
Some of you may feel that way, and if so, that is awesome (keep up the great work and don’t slack off in December)! If you’re not feeling the spiritual love, no worries, there’s still a whole whole month left of 2011 – and we’re going to focus today on what we can do right here, right now, to take our spiritual health from red to black, or better yet, let’s turn it to gold.
Here are a few strategies to enrich your spiritual well-being:
#1 Daily meditation. Spend a few quiet moments each and every day to let go of the mind and the mental chatter. Peace and wisdom come to the heart, not the mind.
#2 Let go of worry.
#3 Let go anger (and while we’re at it, in the same category, let go of judgment, fear, grudges – any of the nastiness that is not serving you). By practicing a sense of detachment, you can release anger, sadness, anxiety, or fear when it has a hold on you.
#4 Remember to honor your parents, elders, and teachers.
#5 Show gratitude to every living thing.
#6 Carve out some time for yourself each and every day. And of course, attending a yoga class is a great way to do this!
#7 Make a mental list of the most important people in your life. When the list is complete, figure out how you can spend more time with these VIPs. To quote James Taylor, “Shower the people you love with love.”
#8 Get outside and hug a tree. You don’t have to take this one literally, but even if it’s just for a few moments, time spent communing with nature can help restore your sense of peace in this crazy, stressed-out world.
#9 Give the gift of love. Volunteer some of your time, visit a neighbor or person who is shut-in, share a smile, give to a charity, or call someone you love today just to let them know it. If you give with your heart, without any expectation of what is to be gained or lost, that, my friends, is true spiritual gold.
#10 Got a great tip on how to flourish in spiritual health? Share the wisdom and leave a comment below.
December can be hectic, so I’m wishing you a peaceful month and a beautiful journey that takes you from red to gold on your path to spiritual well-being.
Photo: Fabian Nick
This post originally ran on December 2, 2011 – You gotta love an oldie but goodie!
Oct 9, 2013 |
I got the opportunity recently to sit in a room with a couple hundred women to listen to their words of wisdom. It was an invitation I couldn’t refuse, and let me just tell you, this room was packed with so much energy, love, and power – I was on a goddess-infused high for the rest of the day.
This women-only forum, aptly named “The Sisterhood,” was held during one of the at-sea days on a Dave Koz jazz cruise and featured a star-studded panel of incredible females including Mindi Abair, Keiko Matsui, Glynis Albright, Pat Prescott, Talaya Trigueros, and Sheila E.
The panel and the participants in the room were all asked to share words of wisdom from their lives. The discussion ranged from how to experience more joy and peace, to what has helped foster healthy relationships and communication. Some of the wisdom came from their mothers, some from the school of hard knocks, some from personal experience, but it all came from the heart.
Part of the panel: Glynis Albright, Sheila E, Mindi Abair, and Talaya Trigueros
What were some of the words of wisdom?
- Have gratitude and love in your life. It’s easy to feel gratitude when you first wake up, but inevitably something bad can happen that can overtake your day, something that causes you to take your focus away from the good. Don’t let that happen; stay focused on the good things in life!
- When you look at things through the eyes of compassion, you can let go of your judgment and everything just seems to be alright.
- Don’t hate. Congratulate!
- Be gentle and kind to yourself.
- Tell the truth, for it will set you free.
Of course, I was taking copious notes during the session, and as I was writing all these words of wisdom down, I couldn’t help but smile. No, this wasn’t a yoga retreat. These were jazz musicians, radio hosts, and wives of musicians, and they were all sharing pieces of their wisdom. But to me, all this wisdom appeared tied to the teachings of yoga.
Having gratitude for what you have in your life is the same as santosha, one of the niyamas from the eight limbs of yoga as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
Being compassionate and lifting up people who are successful instead of being jealous of them are both part of the four keys to happiness as outlined in the yoga sutras.
Being gentle and kind to you is the same concept of practicing ahimsa, one of the yamas, which covers the practice of non-harmful behavior.
And telling the truth is the same thing as satya, another one of the yamas.
How cool is it that these women in essence were all speaking about what we do both on and off our mats when we practice yoga? This makes me feel very wise indeed!
Not all of the wisdom imparted applied directly to the teachings of yoga, but I want to share a few more of these pearls of wisdom regardless.
Keiko Matsui talking about making dreams come true!
Keiko Matsui talked about the importance of visualizing your dreams. She explained that when she can visualize a dream, as long as she believes in the dream and applies hard work to it, the reality of it comes faster and faster.
Glynis Albright encouraged all of the women to learn to be sisters again, to love one another and not be so hard on each other. We need to be more kind to the women in our lives, to lift them up and support them. Amen, Glynis!
There was a lot of love in that cruise ship lounge, and I promise to write more about this event, but I’ll leave you with one last thought that was shared by Sheila E. She reminded us that we have so much power that we don’t realize we have. Make sure you use your power for good and share it with others –this can be as simple as sharing a smile or a hug.
I’ll take you out with a song by Mindi Abair, dedicated to all the ladies and a reminder that we are all beautiful! I’m thinking “Be Beautiful” is making it to a yoga class playlist real soon!
[youtube]http://youtu.be/N2rerpg-Gss?t=28s[/youtube]
Sep 17, 2013 |
Ok, that title might be taking it a bit far, but knitting and the meditative qualities of it can be quite relaxing and beneficial to the soul. If you know me, you know that I was born without the female gene that produces the desire to cook, sew, or do anything crafty. But, recently, I’ve been intrigued by all the yoga and knitting comparisons, and I’m thrilled to announce that my upcoming SKIASANA yoga and meditation retreat in Stowe, Vermont, will include sessions on the meditative and healing power of knitting.
Don’t worry, though, I will not be the one teaching these sessions, but rather I’ve recruited the lovely Dee Eisner, an awesome yogini goddess and friend of mine, to serve up the knittingasana at the Stowe Mountain Ranch.
I’m going to turn this blog post over to Dee to let her introduce herself and tell you more about the knitting and meditation activities planned during the retreat. Knit one, purl two – take it away, Dee!
“Like the counting of the rosary, the motions of needlework are singularly well suited to the practice of contemplation” –From The Knitting Sutra by Susan Gordon Lydon
My passion for knitting precedes my passion for yoga by several decades, but the two practices now hold equal space in my body, mind, and soul. Both knitting and yoga center, enlighten, strengthen, and heal me.
After 35 years of teaching in the Cleveland Public Schools, I decided to become a certified yoga teacher. I love to teach, and I love yoga, and I also knew it would be as beneficial for me as for my students.
My husband is baffled by my obsession with needlework. I always have a knitting project in hand while watching TV and never pack for a trip without my needles and yarn. Having trained in Transcendental Meditation during the ’70s, he eventually recognized that knitting is my meditation.
During my yoga teacher training I did extensive research on the meditative benefits of knitting. The physical, repetitive motions of knitting can create a mindful or even trance-like state. And, although even a simple knitting project requires a certain amount of concentration, part of a knitter’s mind can wander while the rest stays centered on the movements of the hands and the particulars of the pattern.
During our sessions at SKIASANA in Vermont, I’d like to show you how meditative and healing knitting can be.
If you are a seasoned knitter, bring a project that does not require you to consult a pattern constantly. Perhaps that scarf or shawl you never finished (or started – I know!). Something in a garter stitch or simple repetitive pattern that requires a bit of counting would be perfect.
If you have never knitted, or tried and felt fumble-fingered, I will have a simple project to teach you the basics – enough to get that meditative feeling. I’ll have extra knitting needles and yarn available for those who would like to participate.
Thanks, Dee! I won’t forget to pack my knitting needles along with my skis, and I’ll be joining the group of beginner knitters. I’m already imagining myself curled up by the fire at the Stowe Mountain Lodge after a day of yoga and skiing, relaxing into a knitting meditative state.
Check out this post for more details about the SKIASANA retreat. For booking information, please contact The Travel Yogi.
