Apr 24, 2015 |
I just returned home from leading my third Beach Yoga Bliss yoga retreat in Aruba, and as I was preparing my yoga classes this week, I thought about how my students would expect me to share a super inspirational story about the experience. No doubt it was an incredible week full of many great memories: from experiencing spiritual growth and making new friends, to enjoying the beauty of the island of Aruba and being in the presence of an awesome group of yogini goddesses.
You would think that with a week like that I’d be inspired by the warmth of the sunshine, a graceful asana practice, or a peaceful moment of meditation on the beach with the sound of the waves crashing up on the shore. But no, the inspiration I chose to share once back in Akron came from none other than the lizards of Aruba.
Yes, lizards! They are everywhere on the island. and they come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are huge and kind of gnarly looking, and some are small and bright green with colored scales so vivid and patterned that they almost don’t look real. The one thing that each lizard does have in common is a really honking long tail.
Each day after our morning yoga session while we had breakfast, the lizards came out to see if they could get any scraps from the table. I would always hang out for a while after breakfast to catch my breath, and I really enjoyed watching the lizards as I relaxed. One morning as I was watching one of the especially humongous specimens, I noticed how long his tail was and thought to myself that it must really suck to always have to drag that tail around. It looks awfully heavy, and what does the lizard do when it needs to get somewhere quick, or even worse, if you need to get away from a predator?
As I was having these thoughts it struck me, “Maria, you are no different than those lizards. You may not have a physical tail on display, but there are days when you have stuff like stress, fear, worries, and attachment that holds you back the same way.” That stuff is the equivalent of baggage that I need to let go of in order to walk lighter, to be at peace, and to be more present for my life.
We all have our own set of baggage we carry around, and guess what yogis? Just like in the airport when I was carrying around my personal belongings, the baggage didn’t get any lighter. On the contrary, what I was carrying just kept getting heavier and heavier. We can’t walk lighter and truly find our bliss until we release what we cling to so tightly in those bags.
What is your tail made of? Is it an old grudge, something or someone you need to forgive (including yourself), an obstacle, or fear? Stop giving it your energy, and let it go! That’s my inspiration straight from Aruba and from the lizard to yogis everywhere. Let go, or be dragged like a lizard tail. Let go so you can start living a life full of peace, full of grace, full of love.
Give me a little more time to unpack my bags, download my photos, and I promise to share more inspiration from the Loving Kindness Yogathon in Aruba. Believe me, there is much more for me to relate!
Getting friendly with the locals.
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Mar 31, 2015 |
I have a confession to make: I got the inspiration for this post when I was in a bathroom. While in the WC I took the opportunity to check out the artwork hanging on the walls, and a lovely collage of magazine clippings all about yoga, love, and kindness caught my eye. Whenever I see a collage like this I’m always interested to see which phrase or image my eyes will gravitate to first.
On that particular day the phrase was – Create Your Own Loving Kindness Yogathon. This of course brought a huge, honking smile to my face and I thought to myself, “Wow, what a perfect instruction to get as I step on my yoga mat.”
Today I Will Create My Own Loving Kindness Yogathon
What is loving kindness? To me it means being compassionate, loving, and nurturing – letting go of all the negative energy, fear, stress, and stories pinging around in my head and instead making a wish that I be happy, healthy, safe, and live in ease. On the yoga mat it is practicing ahimsa, honoring the body, and being present.
The Loving Kindness Yogathon must start on your yoga mat, and then you can (and must) take the loving kindness off the yoga mat and into your life, continuing to spread the love to your friends, family, and all beings.
If I could boil this idea of a Loving Kindness Yogathan into a beautiful mantra, those words would be – I AM LOVE. I am not fear, I am not judgmen, I am not hate – I am Love.
You have the opportunity to create your own Loving Kindness Yogathon every time you step on your yoga mat and each and every morning when you wake up.
I’m digging this concept so much, I may just have to start calling my yoga retreats Loving Kindness Yogathons!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Thanks for stopping by the Daily Downward Dog today! I couldn’t let March go by without at least one blog post. I have so much to write about, but this year most of my spare time has been spent immersed in my 300 hr-yoga teacher training and some new yoga projects I am working on. Please be patient because, when I do have the time, I have lots of yoga inspiration and more loving kindness that I can’t wait to share with you.
Feb 10, 2015 |
The yoga teacher training program started up recently at Yoga Bliss Akron, and I got the opportunity to speak with quite a few of the trainees just before the program started. I wanted to wish them well and to tell them how excited I was for their journey. As I spoke to them, I could feel their sense of anticipation, and a few of them expressed that they were nervous about starting. That anxiousness is to be expected; anytime you start something new, there is always room for self-doubt and fear of the unknown. I asked each one of them to try to remember one word as they started their yoga teacher training journey, and that word was EASE.
Whenever you approach a situation from a place of fear, your heart closes off, and you are unable to learn. It is only when you open your heart and approach the situation from a place of ease that you can grow and blossom. Each time I told the trainees this one simple word, they all got a big smile on their face, and I could tell they picked up on the essence of approaching life from a place of ease.
I wish that I could say that those words of wisdom were my own idea, but I got the very same advice when I was starting out my advanced 300-hour yoga teacher training.
The very first day of training, Mary Pat Murphy – the goddess leading my training (and my very first yoga teacher!) – asked us to pick an intention card. The cards were spread out on the floor and we were to look at them for a moment and to pick one. Each card contained one word, and that word became our intention for the day. They say that if you really focus on the cards, that the one you are meant to have will be the one that you select. I know that can sound kind of hokey, but that day I did pick the exact card that I needed, and guess what it was?
Thank you universe, because “Ease” was just was the word I needed! As we went through that first day of training, my intention to take everything with a sense of ease came in very handy. When it was time to crack open the anatomy books, that is when the fear really started to kick in. Instead of telling myself, “Maria, you are horrible at anatomy. You’ll never get this stuff,” I started to deepen my breath and instead say to myself, “Ease, Maria, ease . . . approach this anatomy info from a place of love.” Now each time I pull out my anatomy book to study, my gluteus maximus no longer starts to clench, and my levator anguli oris, levator labii superioris, orbicularis oculi, risorius, and zygomaticus major muscles all start to flex to bring a big honking smile to my face.
Ease – it really does work. You can use it to destroy both self-doubt and fear.
Remember, yogis – on your yoga mats, off your yoga mats, right before a challenging situation, take a big breath, open your heart and tell yourself one word: ease!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Dec 13, 2014 |
I’m all for shopping local, but how about putting a different spin on that and shopping goddess! Yeah, support a business that is owned and operated by a goddess, or a product that has been created by a goddess. I count myself blessed to know and work with so many incredible women,so here for your holiday gift shopping pleasure I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite yoga products produced by strong, smart, and talented yogini goddesses!
A Yoga DVD that Transports You to a
Bright Summer Day of Yoga in the Park.
Quite a few people have asked me if I have a yoga DVD that I sell. Not yet, but until I do, I highly recommend Freedom Yoga in Millenium Park with Alie McManus, an international yoga teacher who shares my enthusiasm and love of teaching outdoors. Alie teaches yoga in Chicago and during the summer she offers awesome yoga classes in Millenium Park. Last year she recorded three full (50-minute) classes that she taught there and you can just feel the sun shining down on you as you flow through sun salutations listening to her joyful cues.
If you are missing yoga on the beach, this DVD is for you. You can tell Alie is having fun leading the classes and her energy is contagious. If you are new to yoga she provides excellent instructions and these classes are accessible to all levels.
I first met Alie in Yellow Springs when I went there to study with Erich Schiffmann, who she has studied with extensively. I was thrilled when our paths crossed recently when we both attended a yoga class taught by Tao Porchon Lynch in Chicago. Next time you are in Chicago, check out a class with her at either Yogaview or Moksha.
Alie and Maria at Yogaview in Chicago
Give yourself the gift of yoga with an extra dosh of sunshine delivered by a beautiful goddess. You can purchase Alie’s DVD here!
How to Have The Best Day of Your Life
Today is going to be the best day of my life is one of my personal mantas, so you can imagine my delight when one of my yogini friends wrote a book with that title! In The Best Day of Your Life, Jennifer White, a fellow yoga teacher has penned a straight forward guide on how to have truly awesome days. In the 35 short chapters she provides great advice on topics like how to let things go, deal with jerks, become your own hero, deal with anger, and even how to own your inner bitch.
I’ve got this book on my night stand and I read it for inspiration. I love Jennifer’s no nonsense approach to the topics and the tools she provides to help tackle them. This is a great book for yoga teachers, and I’m sure it is going to inspire a yoga class theme or two in my future.
Woo hoo Jennifer – congratulations on getting your first book in print, and I’m sure there will be more to come! You can pick up your own copy of this book on Amazon.
The KIND MAT
It’s time to feel the yoga, not the floor, with a Kind Mat from VerniceVita. The yoga mat of all mats, which offers great grip with its a non-slip surface, is loaded with the comfort of memory foam to embrace every part of your asana practice. I started using my Kind Mat three years ago, and now my knees, wrists, and joints won’t let me practice on any other mat.
Stop the painful yoga routine associated with thin rubber mats and bring a new level of enjoyment and comfort to your yoga practice. Read my review of these mats, and then purchase your very own Vernice Vita right here on the Daily Downward Dog with a special $10 discount offer. Or, use code MARIA10 to save $10 at thekindmat.com.
The Kind Mat is the genius idea of Racheal Ennis, who I have the distinct pleasure of working with!
Hang Out at The Beach With Goddesses
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 on my Beach Yoga Bliss retreat in Aruba in April 2015! The last two years Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa proved to be the perfect place for a beach yoga retreat, so why mess with a good thing? Enjoy seven days of yoga overlooking the crystal blue water and white sand beaches of Aruba from April 11-18, 2015. For more details on this retreat and to book your spot, contact The Travel Yogi, a company that is run by another yogini goddess in my life, Jennifer Hoddevick!
Buy Handmade and Change Women’s Lives
I love gifts that allow you to give in more ways than one. Each time you purchase a gift from Global Goods Partners, you are purchasing a handmade fair-trade product that is improving the economic status of women in marginalized communities around the world. From the comfort of your home, you get to shop for goods from 40 artisan groups from 20 different countries helping to employ over 3,000 women. 
Global Goods Partners has beautiful handmade gifts like these journals (which I gave to the participants in my Beach Yoga Bliss retreat last year) and a wide variety of jewelry, bags, scarves, and accessories. Please check out this site to help improve women’s lives around the world, shop responsibly through their online store, and donate to their fundraising programs.
Happy Holidays from The Daily Downward Dog!
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.
