Jul 16, 2013 |
If you come to my yoga classes, you’ve probably learned a couple of new asanas that were inspired by my 4-year-old great-niece Lily. (Yes – I’ve graduated to the title of Great Aunt, which I lovingly cherish and also think is quite fitting since I am great at being an aunt.)
Any time I get to be around Lily, we always get down on the floor to play and eventually do a little yoga together. I love the sense of joy and freedom that she brings to the asanas, and she always teaches me to not take myself so seriously on my yoga mat. In fact, we should all follow this cue and bring a little more playfulness into our yoga practice.
Three-year-young Fiona, another great-niece has taught me more about the fine art of hugasana, with her ability to dive bomb into my arms and share her love with the HUGEST hugs.
I was recently blessed with another great-niece named Salem, and at 4 months old, she is a natural when it comes to honoring her body. This girl knows how to move herself around to positions that feel good and just naturally flows into these beautiful backbends to strengthen her back.
Humm, I think my great nieces are onto something!
Over the 4th of July weekend I got to visit both of them and spent time observing and picking up a few new yoga asanas that I’d like to share with you.
Swimasana
Inspired by Lily, come into dekasana (airplane pose), and then instead of leaving the arms at your sides, begin taking your arms forward and back like you are doing the breaststroke. The leg that is back behind you follows along with the arms, like you are kicking the legs back and then forward to support the breaststroke. This actually makes dekasana a little more challenging, but a helluva a lot more fun because you can’t do it without smiling and ultimately laughing at yourself.
Salemasana
Start by lying flat on your belly, legs together and straight behind you. Take your knees out to the sides of your yoga mat, and then lift your feet up to press the soles of the feet together.
Set your elbows under your shoulders and your forearms on the floor parallel to each other (similar to Sphinx pose). As you inhale, start to lift your head, neck, and upper torso off of the ground and into a backbend.
I don’t know if Salem had this in mind, but I directed my classes to bring awareness to their belly button, lightly drawing it away from the floor. This belly lift supports the backbend and soothes the lower back.
The final step in the pose is to plaster a big smile on your face and just look cute – after all, that is what 4-month-olds naturally do.
Hold salemasana for 5 to 10 complete rounds of breath.
To come out of the pose, exhale as you slowly release the belly and lower your torso and head to the floor. Relax and, if you like, take your head to one side and bend the knees, letting them float from left to right like a windshield wiper for a few breaths. Take a moment to pause here and deepen your breath and then repeat salemasana one or two more times.
I’m sending out a huge hug and lots of gratitude to Salem, Lily, and Fiona for teaching me about yoga and inspiring these awesome new poses. To my beautiful great nieces, I can’t wait to see you again and to continue to learn and grow my practice through your youthful energy, joy, hugs, and wisdom.
May 22, 2013 |
Raise your hand if you are a yoga teacher and you’ve instructed your class to close their eyes so they can see within. Or, raise your hand if you are a yoga student and you’ve heard your yoga teacher ask you to close your eyes. I’m seeing a lot of raised hands out there in the universe as this is a common theme in yoga classes.
If you ask me, once you get comfortable in your yoga practice and can start to close your eyes during some of the asanas, that is when your practice really starts to blossom. Closing the eyes provides an outlet to quiet the mind and notice exactly what is happening in your body. When I ask my students to do this, it is not so they can’t see, but so they can truly SEE what’s happening from within.
These instructions took on a whole new meaning to me when I started the first week of my beginners’ yoga class series and was notified that one student was blind. Not only that, but she was to be accompanied by her seeing eye dog. I wasn’t terrified, but I quickly changed my game plan of how I was going to teach the class. I’ll be honest: This is one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a teacher.
With a student who is blind, you can’t tell them to look at their feet to see if they are in the proper alignment, or to watch the way you are demonstrating the proper alignment with your feet. You pretty much have to throw most of your regular cues away. It forced me to rethink every cue as it came out of my mouth.
So, what’s it like having a blind student in class? It’s awesome!
When you teach new students, there are always a few in each class who fear the unknown, not quite sure what to expect, maybe even thinking, ‘oh my gosh, what have I gotten myself into?’ If any of the women in my beginners’ series class felt this way, I’m sure their fears were squelched as soon as they saw Mary and her dog walk into the studio. I know I would be checking myself and saying, “Geez, if this woman has the courage to step onto her yoga mat, then I most certainly can too.”
Buddha always practiced with his eyes closed!
Mary has been an inspiration to each person in the class, present company included. I love the sense of community she has brought to all of us – how the other students are patient when I need to spend a little more time with Mary, how they help her prepare for class and then put away her props for her after. Every week something one of the students does to help Mary touches my heart and makes me smile. And, Mary is probably by far the most attentive and best listener I’ve ever had.
Having Sarah the dog in class is a special treat too. Sarah sits attentively next to Mary and has never caused the slightest distraction. Although, I admit I was kind of bummed when she didn’t try downward dog with us.
I close my eyes a lot when I practice, but never for a whole class. I blindfolded myself and tried this out at home and have to say (no pun intended) it was an eye-opening experience, one that I highly recommend everyone try at least once (but be safe and have a spotter there to keep an eye on you). Even if you can’t do a whole class this way, just try doing a sun salutation with your eyes closed. However, I caution you to watch your nose when you come down from plank to chaturanga dandasana. And be careful with those balance poses – they were nearly impossible for me! Standing poses and alignment will take on a whole new meaning, and if you are a teacher, this exercise provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen your verbal asana cues.
It can be really natural to be fearful of new experiences. What I’ve learned from Mary is that you can’t be afraid, that you have to look at what the experience will teach you, how you can embrace it, and how you will learn and grow from it. Mary is not showing a single sign of fear. Last week after class she asked if I could teach her how to do Warrior 3!
I’d like to send out a huge hug and thanks to Mary for having the courage to start her yoga journey and also for helping me to grow as a yoga teacher. Mary used to do a lot of ballet dancing and is looking forward to bringing her love of dance and movement into her yoga practice. So, Mary here’s to you – keep on dancing on your yoga mat and spreading your light!
Buddha image: Andrea Kratzenberg
Yoga Teacher Tale #1
Apr 19, 2013 |
Woo Hoo – I’m super excited to announce new Daily Downward Dog yoga classes coming to a yoga studio near you! Well, that is if you live in northeast Ohio. Get ready to flow through some vinyasa, deepen your meditation practice, and embrace your inner yogini goddess!
Vinyasa & Meditation | Mondays & Wednesdays 3:45-5:00 PM | Yoga Bliss Akron
Want to begin or deepen your meditation practice? This yoga class is dedicated to teaching the practice and benefits of meditation. Each class will begin with a seated pranayama (breath) exercise, followed by warm-ups and an all-levels vinyasa yoga practice. The last 15 minutes of class are dedicated to a long, sweet savasana and instruction for a quiet period of meditation to help your mind calm and let your body absorb the peace and stillness. The spiritual teachings of yoga will be weaved into class themes to deepen your understanding of yoga beyond the asana practice. Class length is 75 minutes and will be held in the Ganesha (non-heated) studio. All levels welcome.
The Vinyasa & Meditation classes begin on Monday begin April 22, and the Wednesday class will start up on Wednesday, May 8th!
Embracing Your Inner Goddess
Sunday, May 12 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM | Yoga Bliss Akron
Friday, May 17 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM | Nirvana Yoga in Richfield, Ohio
Saturday, June 1 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM | Namaste Yoga Studio in Sagamore Hills, Ohio
Yes, mere mortal women can be goddesses, and in this workshop we’ll explore the qualities that goddesses possess. You might be surprised at how many of these qualities—taking care of yourself, being present, loving yourself just the way you are—are in essence the same as the principles taught in the yoga sutras. So, by living in a yogic way both on and off the mat, we’re also in training to be goddesses! This 2-hour workshop will include discussion, a vinyasa yoga class suited for all levels, a meditation to tap into your divine inner feminine power, and opportunities to love and support fellow yogini goddesses. Bring a friend, a sister, your mother, a group of friends, or just yourself and share in this celebration of the goddesses in our lives. Please bring a journal and something to write with.I offered this goddess-themed class on my recent Aruba retreat, and it was a big hit!
Please contact Yoga Bliss Akron or Nirvana Yoga for further details on pricing and to register for these classes!
I offer a full schedule of yoga classes weekly as well as private and corporate yoga classes, and in just a few more weeks, the 2013 Summer Beach Yoga Classes begin! Please contact me if you need any additional information about Daily Downward Dog Yoga Classes.
Apr 8, 2013 |
I’m a huge fan of the high I get after planting my feet on a cushy yoga mat for an invigorating Vinyasa yoga practice, but there’s nothing quite like the high I can get on a sunny day on top of the Rocky Mountains with my feet strapped to a pair of skis.
I just took a trip out to Colorado for some skiasana, and in addition to getting some kick ass Rocky Mountain highs, I also had the opportunities to take my yoga off the mat and onto the slopes. And of course I picked up a few important life lessons along the way:
1) Live the dream. While waiting in line to ride up the mountain, we were greeted by a perky young lift operator from Michigan. When I asked how he was, he answered, “Great! I’m living the dream.” Despite the cold, he was doing just that because he was doing what he loved in an incredible place. What a perfect reminder to live with gratitude, do what you love every day, and live your dream.
Living the Dream with a big smile plastered on my face!
2) Smile through adversity. One day the weather was nasty – cold, heavy snow, windy, foggy – so much so that my husband and I were having visibility issues. As we rode the lift back up the mountain, a heavy wind was blowing what felt like sharp mini pellets of ice into our faces (and (and the lifts in Colorado are long!). I made a comment that the ice was stinging my face, and the guy on the lift next to me said, “Just put a smile on your face and power through it. When you’re having fun, it just doesn’t matter.” He gave me the exact same advice I give my students when they are in a difficult pose like utkatasana – SMILE and enjoy the ride!
3) Go with the flow. These signs were everywhere we skied. This is something we all need to do a little more of – both on and off the slopes. Instead of fighting against the current of what life throws you, just go with the flow. I’m here to tell you it is a helluva lot more enjoyable and peaceful way to live. I’m going to petition that we get these signs installed everywhere – just imagine what a positive impact that could have on our mental health!
4) The poster girl of Style and Grace. If it wasn’t for hot tubs, I could never ski for more than one day, so every night my husband and I headed to the tubs for a soak. One night we were near a woman who was in her 80s and a bunch of men who were bragging about their speed going down the mountain that day. The lady looked at me and said, “I prefer style and grace over speed.” Amen, sister! There’s plenty of fast out there. In my book beauty, style, and grace are always the way to go both on the yoga mat and off.
5) Listen to your inner guru. I always tell my students that they are their own best teachers, and I listened to that advice when I was on the slopes. When your legs start to call your name in the afternoon, listen to them and get your butt off the slopes and to après ski.
6) Take time to rest. One of the things that I love about yoga are those little breaks in child’s pose when you get take a rest. The rest is just as important as the work and gives you the chance to come back to your breath. When my husband and I travel to ski, we typically go on short trips and feel like we have to ski every day. This year we took a day off in the middle, and it was one of my favorite days of the trip – super relaxing with plenty of time to rest the legs and recharge.
7) Be a control freak. I didn’t get a picture of this, but there were a lot of signs on the slopes that just cracked me up, and one of them said – Be A Control Freak! Certainly this is an important mantra on the ski slopes, but not so much off the slopes.
8) Be present. On the morning of the last day of our vacation, I started to get that last-day-of-vacation angst – you know where you start dreading having to go back home to all the responsibilities waiting for you. But I’m proud to say that the feeling was fleeting and I quickly kicked myself in the ass. After that I allowed myself to be fully present in the moment and enjoy every last morsel of this vacation. It was an awesome day of skiing in the sunshine, and I got my…
Rocky Mountain High!
Living the dream, living the yoga throughout every day, going with the flow, and getting those natural highs with style and grace… aahhhh, life is good!
Mar 4, 2013 |
To be more exact, come on baby light myInsens!
Some people get a whiff of incense, and it instantly transports them to a Catholic church and communion. Not me, though – every time I smell incense it takes me back to my youth and gives me a little chuckle. I grew up with older brothers whose bedroom and cars always smelled like incense. Little did I know at the time that they were trying to cover up the smell of something that is now legal in a few states. I just thought this exotic air freshener went hand-in-hand with rock music, long hair, and rebellion.
Now, thanks to the incredible folks at myInsens, burning incense has taking on a whole new meaning for me. I have found another soothing element to add to my meditation and yoga routine – the intoxicating aromas from myInsens. Just as my breath keeps me grounded and mindful during my yoga practice, now my nose gets to exercise its discerning sense of smell as the aromas guide my mind to a place of stillness to invoke a sense of calm and a feeling of bliss. Pretty cool stuff from a skinny little stick that you light on fire!
So what makes myInsens so special?
1) This holistic incense uses natural oils and materials, is fair-traded, and is hand rolled in villages in India. A percentage of sales of myInsens goes back to the villages that make the incense.
2) Need a little boost of enthusiastic energy? Light up a mySpark stick – a mash-up (or should I say roll-up) of patchouli oil, halmaddi, and sandalwood that will revitalize and leave you feeling steady, ready, focused, and more alive than any cup of Starbucks ever will. You’ll find a variety of scents designed to inspire mental balance, provide quiet contemplation, invoke joy, or leave you feeling calm, balanced, and serene. I haven’t tried this aroma yet, but they even have one called mySensuality that is said to arouse your bodily appetites (ooh la la la).
3) When your incense arrives, it comes in this elegant black velvet box that looks like something you would pull a Tiffany diamond bracelet from! Inside the box, the incense is carefully wrapped to protect it and preserve the freshness. You’ll be delighted to find that an awesome wooden incense holder (that also serves as an ash catcher) is already included, as well as easy to follow instructions. Each box includes 24 eight-inch sticks that each burn for 60 minutes. I have to give the folks over at myInsens kudos on their packaging – it’s really smart and classy and makes a really nice gift to give.
4) FREE SHIPPING! When you order myInsens, there is never a shipping fee for domestic orders.
5) Rather than listen to me babble on, watch myIncens founder Kaivan Dave tell the story behind the making of their incense.
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Take the My Signature Scent Quiz Challenge!
As I write this post, I’m burning a stick of myMantra and can attest to the fact that it has not only uplifted and inspired my mental spirit, but also kept me focused.
I also was given a pretty good laugh when I took their My Signature Scent quiz. After answering a few random questions, the mighty incense gods deigned “My Signature Scent” to be….mySensuality! Guess I’m going to have to ask the hubs to get me some of that for my birthday.
Take the My Signature Scent Quiz Challenge
and Enter to WIN your very own box of myInsens!
Just head on over to the myInsens website and check out all the different scents they offer and then leave a comment below to let me know what scent is calling your nose. For extra fun, take the My Signature Scent quiz yourself and see if it matches up to what you originally selected. The winner will be randomly selected on March 11 at 11:11 EST and will receive one box and one refill of their choice. Contest is open to U.S. residents.
If you are feeling a little extra love in your heart, be sure to follow myInsens on Twitter @myInsens and Facebook and spread the spark about this aromatic giveaway by copying and pasting this message in whatever social media lights your fire.
Come on baby light @myInsens! Enter to win @downwarddog and light your spirit and light your senses! http://bit.ly/YlVFpi
Ready to Light Your Own Fire?!
Daily Downward Dog readers SAVE 10% off any order when you use offer code: DDD10
Light your spirit, light your senses, light myInsens!
Couldn’t resist a little vintage Doors live from the Hollywood Bowl back in 1968!
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