Jul 21, 2015 |
I am in the midst of my 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training, knee deep in yoga texts, self study, and special projects, and loving this incredible journey to becoming a certified 500-hour Yoga Teacher. One of my homework assignments this month comes straight from a book we are reading called Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing, by Caroline Myss.
I’m digging this book for two reasons:
1) It provides a deeper understanding into the energy associated with each of the chakras.
2) Caroline Myss is an awesome storyteller and uses a ton of real life stories in the book to illustrate her points…and who doesn’t love a good story!
In the chapter that covers the fifth chakra (vishuddha – the throat chakra) and the power of our will, Caroline covers the challenges of surrendering our own willpower to divine guidance. She puts forth five rules to live by to open up our ability to let go and honor the divine. So, for the month of July my yoga teacher, Mary Pat Murphy, gave me the assignment of trying to live daily with these five rules:
1) Make no judgments.
2) Have no expectations.
3) Give up the need to know why things happen as they do.
4) Trust that the unscheduled events of our lives are a form of spiritual direction.
5) Have the courage to make the choices we need to make, accept what we cannot change, and have the wisdom to know the difference.
Wowza, that is a pretty challenging homework assignment!
In my yoga classes this week I’m inviting my students to try out these rules as well. If you want to try it out with us give it a go. If you think it might be too challenging, I would highly recommend trying out #1. I always knew I put a lot of judgment on myself, but I never realized how quick I am to judge others and putting this rule into practice has been an eye opening experience. As yogis if we want to practice yoga off our yoga mats, we must let go of judgment and open our hearts to love all beings.
This sign should be posted on the door of every yoga studio.
If you want to free up a huge amount of wasted energy, I highly suggest the practice of #2. I am the queen of putting too much expectation into activities like vacations and concerts. When you go into a trip or event with no expectations, the unexpected occurrences will hopefully be a delight (like when your car’s air conditioning goes out on a 90 degree day on a 3-hour road trip).
My life over the last seven years has given me the opportunity to put into practice rules #3-5, and this week I am sharing a real-life story in my classes of how a big unscheduled event in my life was truly a form of spiritual direction. In fact, when I look back I now realize that I have been the recipient of divine guidance many times and that is how I received the call to begin practicing yoga and to becoming a yoga teacher.
If you thought summer was a time when there’s no homework, here is a huge honking homework assignment, if you choose to accept it. I’ll write more about my experience of practicing these rules, and please feel free to share your experience as well in the comments.
Jul 13, 2015 |
It’s official and I’m extremely happy to report that I have reached the point in my life where I own more yoga pants than I do grown up dress pants. The staple in my closet used to be black power pant suits, now my power pants are a plethora of colorful and unique yoga pants along with the classic black style.
Yoga pants have become so popular, I bet I’m not the only one who is seeing this emerging trend in their closet. Everywhere I look yoga pants are creeping into mainstream culture, there are even songs written about their special powers:
[youtube]https://youtu.be/GYv4Fs7nzIY[/youtube]
…And cartoons extolling their magical ability to relieve stress:
All this hype got me wondering, do yoga pants really do have super powers? So, I decided to do a test, and I put on my favorite new pair of yoga pants from Liquido and took them out for a spin to see if they could bring me extra special super powers.
This particular design shown above was from their line of yoga pants designed by yogini goddess Tiffany Cruikshank, and I wore them to attend a Richard Freeman yoga workshop in Columbus, hosted by Yoga on High. Looking spiffy in these awesome yoga pants, I mustered up the courage to take my copy of Richard’s book The Mirror of Yoga and sauntered up to meet him and ask for his autograph.
The yoga pant super powers worked like a charm and Richard was super cool about signing my book. It may not look like it in this picture, but he really was.
Richard and his wife Mary Taylor took us through a challenging Ashtanga yoga practice that day and I can tell you that my Liquido yoga pants were super comfortable to practice in. The waistband stays put, the fabric breathes, and they have stood the test of several washes with no fading.
But the best part about Liquido yoga pants are all the awesome colors and patterns in their yoga leggings and capris, sure to bring super power energy to anything you do. Check out their latest designs at liquidoactive.com and start believing in the power of yoga pants!
If you get the chance to attend one of Richard and Mary’s workshops I highly recommend it. They are so knowledgeable and it was a true delight to listen to their eloquent cueing and I absolutely loved how Richard infused his sense of humor into the practice.
Thank you Mary Taylor and Richard Freeman for visiting us in Ohio! We are so blessed to have so many great teachers come here to share their yoga wisdom.
*****
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Jun 22, 2015 |
I’ve had many requests to lead a yoga retreat on a beach that didn’t require securing an international passport, or being far from family for a whole week. For those of you who want to get away from it all, dip your toes in the sand, and relax and recharge at a really awesome vacation destination, I’ve heard you. This summer I’ve got the perfect yoga retreat for you.
The weekend of August 28–30, 2015, I will be leading a yoga retreat at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Pack your bathing suit, yoga mat, and sense of adventure, and take a road trip to one of the coolest summer vacation spots in the Midwest – the newly restored and absolutely beautiful Hotel Breakers resort for Top Thrill Yoga.
The Hotel Breakers has just undergone an extensive transformation, and when you step into the lobby of this iconic hotel you will feel like you’ve been transported to a Cape Cod beach resort. Step outside of the lobby to find an expansive beach and pool deck where you can lounge. There are endless options to relax in between beach yoga and meditation sessions, including the thrilling amusement park rides at Cedar Point.
I’ve got a special weekend of themed yoga classes that will help you prepare your body and mind not only for the roller coasters in the park, but the roller coaster of life. We’ll breathe, stretch, meditate, relax, feed the soul, and find our bliss on a gorgeous one-mile stretch of sandy beach. No passport required!
Here are a few great reasons why you should join us for Top Thrill Yoga at Cedar Point:
1) Top Thrill Yoga! Cedar Point is known for its thrilling roller coasters like Top Thrill Dragster. In less than 4 seconds, the ride takes you from zero to 120 MPH and then shoots you 420 feet into the air for a power-packed adrenaline rush. During the weekend yoga and meditation sessions, I’ll be teaching a special Top Thrill Sun Salutation along with pranayama breathing exercises to prepare your heart and mind for the excitement you’ll find in the park – or anytime a stressful situation arises. This is not my first trip to Cedar Point, so I’ll teach you exactly how I’ve used the power of my breath to calm me down before taking a spin on Top Thrill Dragster!
2) FullMoonAsana. We’re starting the retreat class on Saturday night a little later. That gives you plenty of time in the park; plus it will be dark enough for us to practice moon salutations under the light of the full moon. The evening beach yoga class starts at 8:30 PM, and it is going to be a truly magical yoga practice under the stars, bathing in the expansive light and energy of the full moon.
3) Day-tripper. You don’t have to come for the whole weekend. If you like, you can head to Cedar Point for the day and attend individual yoga retreat classes. There is an early-bird discount if you purchase the weekend package of all the yoga and meditation classes before July 15, but each yoga class can also be purchased separately. If you purchase classes through the Daily Downward Dog you will have the opportunity to purchase discounted one-day and weekend Cedar Point tickets and parking passes. Click here for more information about purchasing the retreat weekend or individual class passes.
4) Community. One of the highlights of my past summer yoga retreats is hanging out by the fire at night simply relaxing, sharing laughter, and getting to know all the other yogis. The pool deck at Hotel Breakers has an awesome fire-pit with lots of chairs overlooking the lake, and I can’t wait to hang out there and make new friends on Friday and Saturday night.
5) Yoga with a View! Mother Nature is providing the perfect yoga studio for the weekend with views overlooking Lake Erie, as well as gorgeous sunrises, sunsets, and the full moon rising. You’ll hear the sound of the waves lapping up on the shore, birds chirping, and maybe even a few squeals of delight from the roller coaster fanatics. If by chance there is rain, we’ll have a wonderful space inside the Ceder Point Convention Center next to Hotel Breakers to practice yoga.
6) Food! You’ll enjoy all the perks of a full-service resort at Hotel Breakers, including Starbucks coffee, pancakes for breakfast at Perkins, Japanese food at TOMO Hibachi Grill, and frothy beverages at the Surf Lounge Rotunda Bar.
7) Adventure! If you stay at Hotel Breakers, you get to enter Cedar Point a whole hour before the general public– that means no lines for some of the most popular rides! You will also be able to purchase discounted park passes. Cedar Point has 71 amusement park rides (17 of those are roller coasters), the Soak City Waterpark, live entertainment, and Lake Erie activities like wave runner rental, parasailing, and boat charters. In between yoga classes you can have an afternoon of adventure, or just dip your toes in the sand and relax at the pool.
Don’t delay – Get your reservations for Hotel Breakers, check out all the activities to pursue at Cedar Point, purchase your yoga retreat classes, and then kick back and daydream until it’s time to enjoy Top Thrill Yoga! Click here for more information about the retreat weekend and links to purchase retreat accommodations and yoga class passes.
Woo Hoo! I hope to see you in Ohio this summer for Top Thrill Yoga!
May 22, 2015 |
How about making this your mantra for the summer: Less Stress, More BEACH! That shouldn’t be hard to do with the summer beach yoga schedule I have planned.
I am thrilled to say that tomorrow (May 23) kicks off the fifth year of bringing beach yoga to the beautiful Lake Erie shores and I’ll be back at Main Street Beach and Linwood Beach in Vermilion, and Firefly Beach in Huron again this summer to help you go from stressed out to blissed out! Soak up some sun salutations and let the sound of the waves wash away your stress at one of these classes:
In case you are wondering, yes, there will be yoga on Memorial Day at Main Street Beach!
Sunsets Help Reduce Stress!
I don’t know if anyone has ever done research on this, but I have to believe that watching a sunset over the water has got to reduce anxiety, decrease blood pressure, and generate calm and peaceful vibrations. I’m going to commission my own study, and if you would like to help me with the research, take a drive up to Vermilion for a sunset beach yoga class on Tuesday or Wednesday evening this summer. Mother nature puts on a spectacular show for us every night and you get a front seat view from your yoga mat while flowing through sun salutations. Come a little early or stay after class so you have time to take a relaxing walk along the beach and maybe even find some sea glass. Tuesday night Sunset Beach Yoga at Linwood Park starts on May 26, and Wednesday nights at Firefly Beach begin on May 27 at 7:30 PM.
Full Moon Beach Yoga
Wootie woo hoo the first full moon beach yoga class with be Tuesday, June 2 at Linwood Beach. The evening will start out with sunset beach yoga from 7:30 – 8:30 PM and be followed by the full moon class from 9:00 – 10:00 PM. Come do your moon salutations and soak up the vibrations of the full moon energy on the beach. Mark your calendar for July 2, July 31, and August 29 for additional full moon beach yoga classes.
Festival of the Fish Beach Yoga – June 19
Every year the city of Vermilion puts on an awesome weekend of food, fun, fireworks, and fish! This year the Festival of the Fish is June 19-21. I’m super excited to be on the agenda again, so join me for a free yoga class on Friday, June 19th at 9:30 AM at Main Street Beach.
Beach Yoga Bliss Retreat & More!
Save the date, the weekend Beach Yoga Bliss retreat will be August 28-30, and I’ll be announcing the location and details very soon. If you would like to receive email alerts about summer beach yoga classes, the weekend retreat, and news about standup paddleboard yoga classes, please leave a comment below or email us at info@ dailydownwarddog.com and we’ll get you set up!
Hope to see you on the beach this summer!!
Beach Yoga schedule and location details.
If you can’t make it to a beach this summer you can still stress less and get outside for any kind of outdoor yoga or check out one of my Hang Ten Meditation videos and meditate to the sound of waves!
Relax image from goodwp.com
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
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
