Jun 18, 2014 |
Can you believe I recently got an email from the folks at Icebreaker Merino posing that question?
These New Zealanders wanted to know how I was bringing adventure into my yoga practice.
I could tell them about my quest to get into handstand without the aid of a wall by the end of the summer, or how at times I have been teaching yoga classes on the beach in the rain with gale force winds, or my thrill of getting into salamba sirasana on a standup paddleboard, but I’ve got an even better adventure story to tell.
Last April I taught my very first yoga retreat in Aruba. At the time I announced the retreat, I had no idea if anyone would sign up. It had always been my dream to combine my love of yoga and travel, so I took a leap of faith, followed my heart, and booked a ticket to Aruba. Then I invited anyone and everyone who wanted to join me, and 10 awesome yogini goddesses came along. You may not agree, but I think that took some big yoga-lovin’ balls!
My first Beach Yoga Bliss yoga retreat in Aruba!
I have been blessed to lead three more yoga retreats since then (Firefly Beach, SKIASANA, and Beach Yoga Bliss II). And I’m not stopping now!
Getting adventurous on the ski slopes in Stowe, Vermont during SKIASANA
My biggest yoga retreat adventure is now official. In September 2015, I will be leading the I Am Love Beach Yoga Bliss retreat in Santorini, Greece!
The mantra for the week will be “I Am Love,” and together we’ll learn how to live that mantra, letting go of fear, stress, or whatever else is keeping your from living out your intentions and opening your heart wide open to love. So this announcement comes with a big honking WOO HOO!
I can’t wait to practice yoga and meditate on this deck overlooking the sapphire blue waters of the Aegean Sea. There will be twice daily yoga sessions. The morning sessions are reserved for a spirited, all-levels asana and meditation practice, and the late afternoon sunset classes are restorative with more time for sweet meditation. A few of the evening sessions will include therapeutic myofascial release with Yoga Tune-Up® Therapy Balls (see I really do have balls) and yoga nidra for deep relaxation.
We are going to have plenty of adventure exploring the island and enjoying the picturesque red and black sand beaches, trying out the Vinsanto local wine (I can speak from experience that it is yummy), visiting ancient ruins, and chillaxing at one of the hotel’s many pools, which also sport gorgeous views of the sea.
This is the farthest I’ve ventured on any of my yoga retreats, so grab your passport and come along! You can read more about the retreat here including testimonials from the yogis who have attended past retreats, and reservations can be made through The Travel Yogi. Space is limited; book early to save a spot for your yoga mat on that gorgeous seaside deck!
Speaking of having balls, I have to say the folks at Icebreaker Merino have big kahunas to make yoga wear that is made out of wool. I don’t know about you, but wool is not a fabric that comes to mind when I’m thinking about getting dressed for a beach yoga class. But this is not your mother’s itchy wool; this is lightweight merino wool that naturally keeps your cool. If you are unfamiliar with merino wool, here’s a little Merino 101. Icebreaker is dedicated to sustainability and ethical business practices and I’m thinking I may just have to plan a future yoga retreat in New Zealand because it looks gorgeous there!
To me, having balls is the same thing as letting go of fear and opening your heart to go after your dreams. I’d love to hear how you exercise courage either on or off your yoga mat. Leave a comment below to let me know the most adventurous thing you’ve done lately.
I’ll keep you posted on my quest to get into handstand. If you can’t wait until September 2015, my next yoga retreat will be on the beautiful island of Aruba – April 11-18, 2015 and you can book it now through The Travel Yogi.
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
May 5, 2014 |
Moms spend a lot of time comforting their children – nursing them back to health when they are sick, making sure they eat right, and sharing lots of hugs and kisses. Now you can give your mother or a special lady in your life that same gift of comfort with The Kind Mat by VerniceVita. These yoga mats have an ultra comfy layer of memory foam and they are my yoga mat of choice.
Now Mom can flow through a yoga class without discomfort in her knees during poses like ustrasana (camel pose) or in her wrists and hands while in adho mukha savasana (downward facing dog), because the Kind Mat provides a comfort layer of memory foam that relieves pressure points and pain in joints that no other yoga mat offers. And, you can rest assured that your Mom will be safe on her mat. There’s no slipping thanks to the skid-proof bottom layer, and the absorbent textured neoprene top layer that is water resistant will keep her hands and feet stabilized in every yoga posture. Here’s ten more great reasons why you should get your YOGAMOM a Kind Mat!
1) Candy might be sweet, but when Mom’s wrists, knees, and joints feel good during yoga practice, that’s an even sweeter treat with great long-term effects.
2) If you don’t live close to you mom and miss giving her hugs, you can show her how much you love her each time she steps on her yoga mat and feels the comfort of her Kind Mat under her feet and hands. It’s like giving her a big, yogalicious hug.
3) If you’re not already your mom’s favorite child, you will be.
4) Forget about flowers! Help your mom’s yoga practice blossom with the support and comfort provided from The Kind Mat.
5) If mamma ain’t happy on her yoga mat, ain’t no one happy, so make her happy with memory foam comfort.
6) Mother knows best. Make her proud and show her how smart you are by giving her the best yoga mat.
7) Mom always made sure you had a comfortable place to sleep. Give her the ultimate resting experience in savasana with the comfort of memory foam.
8) Her knees will thank you every time she goes into poses like ustrasana (camel pose). Her wrists will thank you every time she goes into adho mukha savasana (downward facing dog), and the gratitude will just keep flowing through her vinyasa practice.
9) Mother-daughter or mother-son yoga is the best! Your mom will fall in love with her yoga practice, and yoga class will become a great excuse to spend time together.
10) By protecting your mother’s body and encouraging her to keep a regular yoga practice, you are helping her stay spry and independent.
Imagine how relaxed and at peace your mother will be while lying in savasana on top of an ultra-cushy Kind Mat. She will float on air and send loving thoughts to you each time she steps on her mat.
The extra cushion in The Kind Mat is perfect for yoginis who are recovering from injuries, pregnant mothers, and for mothers who have always wanted to give yoga a try. It doesn’t matter what kind of yoga Mom practices; The Kind Mat is suitable for all types including Vinyasa Flow, Power, Bikram, Ashtanga, Iyengar, Gentle, Kundalini, Yin, Pre/Postnatal yoga, and many others.
Order now and take advantage of this special Mother’s Day pricing – for you or your mom!
Apr 16, 2014 |
I have to say that these last few weeks of teaching yoga have been an absolute delight and full of creativity. Even though it was cold and snowing like crazy on March 29, a packed house at Yoga Bliss Akron heated it up so it felt as hot as Jamaica, and the picture was complete with their reggae mat dancing during my Yoga of Bob Marley class.
Last Saturday, I got to hang out with the coolest group of dead-icated yogis doing deadhead downward dogs during my Yoga of the Grateful Dead class. And, it has been a blast putting together all of the inspirational classes I will lead during the Beach Yoga Bliss II retreat in Aruba (woo hoo, can’t wait to get on that plane and head to the Caribbean on April 22!).
Putting together these special themed classes has been challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding to spread my wings and combine three things I’m really passionate about: yoga, music, and travel. Here are just a few highlights that have made these classes so cool to teach!
1) Reggae Dancer. When I was planning the Bob Marley and Grateful Dead classes, part of the flows included dancing. For both classes, I worried whether or not anyone would dance. I don’t know why; I guess it’s something an author or musician tends to worry about – whether or not what they’ve created will be infectious enough for people to let go and give into the rhythm. I’m happy to report that my worries were for naught. All the yogis danced and flowed on their yoga mats, and it was awesome to see and to dance along with them.
2) Dead-icated. At the beginning of the Grateful Dead class, I asked the attendees how many of them had been to a Grateful Dead concert. One gentleman had been to 3 shows, another 80, and unbelievably one woman announced that she had been to 200 shows. Wowza! I was just a little intimidated and in awe of the knowledge of the Dead she must have. I wonder if I could convince her to travel around the world to all of my Yoga of the Grateful Dead classes*? It made me stop and think about how dedicated I am to my yoga practice.
3) Deadhead Confessions. I admitted to the class that I had never been to a concert or been a huge fan of the group until I started to put together this class. But when I really started to listen to their music as I put the set list (aka playlist) together, I found myself adding song after song to the point where it really became a struggle to narrow down my top choices. With all the recorded live versions of their music available, the exploration of Grateful Dead’s creations could go on and on. Being the confessed new fan that I am, I’m planning to keep on truckin’ and listening (and flowing) along.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/8lCMUkqpI7o[/youtube]
One of my new Grateful Dead favorites “Shakedown Street”
Love is Shaking on Shakedown Street!
4) Masters of Improvisation. Every Grateful Dead concert had periods where the band improvised, and that is where the magic and freedom began. We did the same thing on our mats, giving ourselves permission to deviate from the flow and let loose into improvisational or freedom-style yoga. I told the group they could start by plugging into the flow I had just taught them, or they could improvise their very own movement – to let themselves loop in, feel the vibe, tune into the music and into the asanas, and let their vinyasas and their breath dance. I was first exposed to freedom-style yoga by Erich Schiffmann, and it is always a treat to get to share this liberating practice with others.
5) Hubby Yoga. I just had to smile when my husband showed up for the Grateful Dead class since he does not have a regular yoga practice. Not only did he show up, but he came to the studio with his Vernice Vita yoga mat and NamaSTAY Yoga Towel so he could be dead-icated to his yoga flows with slip-free comfort!
6) Listening to the Universe. Sometimes you get an idea to do something and then just sit on it. The idea to create the yoga classes tied to the yoga teachings of Bob Marley, the Grateful Dead, and the Beatles came to me over a year ago, but I didn’t act on it right away. Fortunately, there were a few people in my life who lit a fire under my ass and encouraged me to put them together: sharing song suggestions and concert experiences to relay the messages from the universe I needed to keep the dream of these classes alive. Thank you, Joe, Vernon, and Mike!
Image via tumblr.com
7) Encore! I am super excited that I have one more class to go in this music series. The Yoga of the Beatles is coming up Friday, May 16, at Yoga Bliss Akron from 6:30 – 8:30 PM. *After that I’m ready to take these classes on tour, so if you would like more information about the series or would like to book them at your yoga studio, please contact me at maria @ dailydownwarddog.com or (330) 289-7026.
I’m feeling blessed, energized, and grateful to Bob, the Beatles, and the Grateful Dead for the inspiration, incredible music, and for living their yoga off the mat through their music and the way they cared and showed compassion for all beings.
Feb 13, 2014 |
Everyone loves to get affirmation, and yesterday I got to receive a huge dose of special affirmations whispered lovingly into my ear. Before you start thinking it was my husband getting all romantic before Valentine’s Day, think again, because these beautiful messages were delivered by fellow yogis who are participating in the 40 Days to Personal Revolution program along with me at Yoga Bliss Akron.
As I sat with eyes closed, these were just a few of the sweet affirmations whispered into my ear:
You are beautiful.
I am so glad you’re here.
Your smile lights up the room.
You are smart!
I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to have these positive message delivered in such a delicate but powerful way, and I allowed myself to accept the affirmations, to believe them, and to let them fill my heart with loving kindness.
In my yoga classes this week I spoke about the importance of nurturing yourself, to be sure you are talking to yourself in a way that is loving, the same way you would talk to someone you cared deeply for.
Do you practice loving kindness on your yoga mat, or do you spend a lot of time beating yourself up about not being able to quiet your mind or touch your toes?
Next time you step onto your yoga mat, try something new and silently whisper positive affirmations to yourself. Be gentle, loving, kind, and attentive as you practice. Step outside of your normal routine and focus on taking care of you, and I guarantee you will feel better. Notice how your yoga practice changes, and expect to be delighted.
The affirmation I shared with the rest of the group was a quote from Buddha:
“You more than anyone else in the entire universe
is worthy of your love.”
The 40 Days to Personal Revolution program I’m participating in is being led by Tracy Rhinehart. This powerful and proven program was developed by Baron Baptiste and provides the tools, guidance and, inspiration to awaken the unlimited potential that resides in all of us. For the next 40 days I’ll be practicing yoga and meditation daily, eating mindfully (including a 3-day juice fast), journaling, and focusing on personal growth. I can’t wait to see what these next 40 days bring and I’ll keep you posted on my journey.
Please leave a comment below if you have ever participated in a program like this and let me know about your experience!
Share the Yoga Love this weekend:
Saturday, February 15 in Vermilion | 9:30 – 10:45 AM | All Levels Hatha Yoga | Bring a friend, sister, mother, brother, or anyone you love and they get class for half price!
Sunday February 16 | 1:00 – 3:15 PM | Beginners’ Workshop | Learn the basics of yoga in a fun and supportive environment!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Aug 6, 2013 |
Peace of mind is great, but who wants it just for a short commute? Shouldn’t we all be striving to have it for the longer journey? Peace of mind to me is all about living in the present, and ultimately that’s what yoga is all about – letting go of the chatter, the worry, the stress, any fretting about the past and the future, and being fully present and full of gratitude and peace in the here and now. It’s not the easiest of tasks, especially if we think about sustaining this state for the long haul.
The folks over at the Robinson Trucking Company totally get it, and may have found one of the most awesome marketing taglines I’ve seen in a while – the title of this very post! As a former advertising executive, I have a fondness in my heart for clever and well-thought out taglines. Who knew a trucking company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, could be so Zen? I can’t even tell you how much it made me smile when I was driving on the Ohio Turnpike last week and saw ”Peace of Mind for the Long Haul” emblazoned on the side of one of their trucks!
This isn’t the first time I’ve commended a company for sharing yogic lessons. I gave Liberty Mutual a shout-out last year for “Slow down – there’s plenty of fast out there.”
Peace of mind is such a beautiful gift. Why not set an intention to strive to practice it, not just for little trips around the corner, but truly for the long-distance journey of your life? You can start by focusing on peace of mind on your yoga mat, especially during savasana, and by developing a meditation practice, even if only for ten minutes a day with Hang Ten Meditation. Take this peaceful practice out for test drives until you become a seasoned long-haul peace of mind trucker.
After all, if you are always worrying about the past or the future, what happens to the moment you are in?
