Jul 11, 2014 |
Woo hoo – the beach yoga in Vermilion and Huron has been a blast this summer and I’m sending out big hugs to everyone who has shown up to practice with me on the lovely shores of Lake Erie. Summer is heating up and so are the activities at beach yoga! Check out all the latest updates below!
FULL MOON YOGA
This Saturday there will be a full moon – but not just any full moon. This one is being touted as a SUPER full moon, aptly named because it is going to be the night of my first Full Moon Yoga class on Main Street Beach in Vermilion!
The reason for the SUPER moniker is due to the fact that this full moon is not only the closest and largest full moon of this year, but it also will be the moon’s closest encounter with earth for all of 2014!
Please join me and tap into the power and energy of this super full moon and align with the natural rhythms of the season. It is said that the full moon is a time that brings closure to things that no longer serve us, enabling us to set intentions and dreams to nourish us in the days to come.
We’ll enjoy rhythmic and empowering moon salutations; nurture our bodies, minds, and souls; balance our energies; and awaken our creativity and intuition as we flow through asanas in the divine light of this super full moon. There will be time at the end of class for meditation, setting intentions, and sending dreams out into the universe. The Super Full Moon class will start at 8:30 PM and is an all-levels-welcome class. Mother nature is providing a double treat Saturday night – you’ll get to see the sunset over Lake Erie and then watch as the moon start to brighten.
The Full Moon over Linwood Park last summer at beach yoga – thanks Alison Harris Jaggers for sharing this photo!
What to Bring: I’ll have sheets down on the beach to protect your yoga mat or towel, but I’m expecting a big turnout, so bring along an extra sheet if you can. You may want to bring an extra layer of clothing or a blanket to cover up with during savasana and meditation, and you might also want to have some buy spray on hand.
Cost: This is a free class. Donations are welcome!
Location: Main Street Beach is located at the end of Main Street in downtown Vermilion. Class will be held right on the beach. There is parking along Main Street.
Class will be cancelled in the event of rain. I’ll post updates on the Daily Downward Dog Facebook page if the weather is questionable.
Can’t make it this Saturday? There will be full moon beach yoga class on
August 10 and September 9 too at Linwood Beach in Vermilion!
SUP YOGA
Jim Lawhead of Lake Erie Paddler is bringing 8 stand-up paddle boards to beach yoga at Firefly Beach on Sunday, July 13 and July 20. Sign up now if you want to learn how to paddle board and have a standup paddleboard yoga session with me.
Paddle Board Lesson
10:00 – 11:30 AM on July 13 and 20
$30 – 90 Minutes
Paddle Board Lesson is taught by experienced certified Paddle Board instructor from Lake Erie Paddler.Paddle Board Lesson is comprised of the following:
- 15-minute beach tutorial on paddling techniques, footwork, balance, and safety
- 30-45 minute on-water instructor guided coaching to ensure each student success
- 30-45 minute self-guided free paddle with instructor
- Elective SUP Yoga instruction by Maria
Included in Paddle Board Lesson is rental of premium paddle board, paddle, leash, and PFD/Life Jacket.
RESERVE YOUR BOARD NOW – SPACE is Limited. For more information and to register online go to:
http://alohasupoh.com/products/sup-lesson-firefly-beach-huron
MASSAGE
Starting July 12, Ayden Ash will be at Firefly Beach every Saturday and Sunday morning to give Relaxation Massages. Ayden is certified as an Ethical Massage Practitioner and will be at Firefly at 7:30 AM for massages before class or after class. $1 a minute up to 15 minutes, $25 for a half an hour, and $40 for a full hour. First come, first served or you can contact Ayden at aydenanthonyash at gmail.com to book in advance.
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
Jun 30, 2014 |
MC Yogi’s Mantras, Beats, & Meditations has been in my car’s CD player for the last month, and it may just be the coolest yoga music CD I’ve ever listened to. But I admit: up until I heard this new album, I was saying that about his last one, Pilgrimage.
Using a delightful mash-up of hip hop, rap, and infectious world beats, MC Yogi is undoubtedly a master of telling stories in his music. This time around, MC Yogi morphs into a wise professor of the ancient teachings of yoga, and lucky for us he is sharing his yogic wisdom and love in such refreshingly creative way through his music.
If you think yoga is just about touching your toes, MC Yogi will fill you in on all the other aspects in the song “Eight Limbs,” a cleverly rhymed instructional journey through each of the limbs, or branches, of yoga. The song brings the teachings down to a level that is not only easy to comprehend, but easy to move and groove to.
If you have ever struggled with how to explain (or understand) the concepts of pratyahara or samādhi, you’ve got to listen to this track. It has officially become a part of my Beyond Beginners yoga class series, and I play it when I cover the eight limbs to offer the participants a fun and fresh take on the subject.
Want a quick discourse on the seven chakras? “Seven Wheels” is another informative hip-hop anthem that expertly guides the listener through the body parts, colors, senses, and emotions tied to each of the seven chakras. (MC, where were you when I taught my chakra yoga class series?!)
“Ahimsa” is MC Yogi’s storytelling at its finest. This tale beautifully lays out the concepts of ahimsa and samādhi. To quote the lyrics:
Ahimsa is the science of non-violence,
Practicing the art of peace, love, and kindness.
Cultivate a state where love shines the brightest,
Resolving conflicts with the ancient yoga science.
This song reinforces the teaching of yoga that when the mind is kept quiet, peace automatically will spread around it.
If you have not caught on to the general theme yet, this CD is a virtual hip-hop Yoga 101 (and 201) course, serving up the deeper spiritual teachings of yoga in a uniquely cool way. Any yoga practitioner, from beginner to advanced, can learn a few new things about yoga while absorbing the yoga teachings infused into each track.
One of the reasons I love this MC Yogi album is the mix of different musical genres, Indian music elements, and hip hop beats that were styled in big part by DJ Drez, who performs on the majority of the tracks and co-wrote “Heart Sutra.”
[youtube]http://youtu.be/K13fiDekllw[/youtube]
As much as I like listening to the CD, I’m finding it hard to put most of the tracks into my yoga class playlists. The songs are lyric heavy, and I feel it would be too distracting to give yoga cues on top of the rapping. However, with that said, I think this is excellent music for a rockin’ home practice, and I can highly recommend a booty shaking sun-salutation session to the hardcore hip-hop “Yoga Breakdance” or “A.U.M.” (which stands for Almighty, Universal, Magnetic).
There are two songs on Mantras, Beats, & Meditations that will definitely make it to one of my yoga class playlists: “Heart Sutra,” beautifully chanted by MC’s wife Amanda Giacomini, and “Prayer Wheel,” a chant of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, complete with a gorgeous cello accompaniment by Michael Fecskes.
MC Yogi is making the yoga festival rounds this summer. If you can make it to one of his concerts – or better yet one of his classes (yep, he and his wife Amanda are both yoga teachers) – or even better yet a yoga class where DJ Drez is knocking out the yoga beats for them, you are in for one yogalicious musical experience. I got to attend a class with MC, Amanda, and DJ Drez at Tadasana Festival, and it was incredible!
Hanging out with MC and Amanda at Tadasana Festival
Thank you MC Yogi for sharing your wisdom, musical talents, and energy. I have one request, though, for your next CD release: How about covering the Bhagavad Gita in a hip-hop storytelling feat?
See below for links to my reviews of other MC Yogi and DJ Drez albums.
Jahta Beat The Lotus Memoirs by DJ Drez – Yoga Class Playlist Nirvana
Pilgrimage – MC Yogi
Visit the Cool Yoga Music page on The Daily Downward Dog for yoga class playlists, CD reviews, and more!
Click to find out more about upcoming Daily Downward Dog yoga retreats! Come join us!
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 28, 2014 |
Well, another Beach Yoga Bliss retreat is in the books, and I couldn’t help but recap all the reasons why Beach Yoga Bliss II in Aruba more than just rocked. It was crazy awesome this year, and here are a few reasons why.
Walk This Way. Yoga wasn’t the only physical activity on the agenda; we also got a little walkasana action throughout the week! It kicked off with a meditative walk around the Peace Labyrinth at the Alto Vista Chapel. You couldn’t ask for a more gorgeous and serene setting to walk a labyrinth, taking time to journey inward to set forth intentions. Afterward we all got to sit by the chapel in silent meditation overlooking the Caribbean.
A few early risers ventured out with me to hike over 500 steps to the top of Hooiberg (the highest point on the island) to catch the sunrise and meditate while looking out over the island.
Once again, the hike to the natural pool along the north side of the island was absolutely stunning, and this year we enjoyed the added company of a few goats.
Boca Keto Beach was magical and will always hold a place in my heart.
International Yoga Retreat Leader. Oh yeah, it’s official: I am an international yoga retreat leader now because this year three lovely yoginis from Canada joined the retreat! I’m thinking there are going to be some Canadian yoga retreat locations in my future (Skiasana in the Canadian Rockies or Vancouver, B.C. is sounding good).
Me No Fear. One of the retreat themes was about letting go of fear and embracing love. I encouraged everyone to pick a mantra to capture the essence of letting go of fear and shared my own personal mantra: I Am Love. Elyse, one of the yogis from Canada, came up to me after class to tell me that a mantra popped into her mind during the class. It was a memory of her children learning to speak English but mixing up the tense. And so “Me No Fear” officially became a mantra for the week, one that I’m sure is going to stick with me for a long time. Thank you, Elyse, for the inspiration!
Santosha. If you are wondering why so many of the pictures from the retreat have everyone with their hands in gyan mudra? Well, gyan mudra officially became santosha mudra as we practiced being fully present and content.
I’ll admit the practice of santosha (cultivating contentment) is not hard to do when you are on a yoga retreat in Aruba, but it’s not so easy back on the mainland when things are not going your way. We learned a lot about santosha, including how to apply the practice off the mat, because when we are content, it leads to happiness, which leads to bliss.
Setting Intentions. A big part of every Beach Yoga Bliss retreat is having time for silent reflection, to journal, set dreams, and send intentions out into the universe. I gave each of the participants a Destiny Intention bracelet from Tiny Devotions and suggested that they tie the intentions they set during the week to their bracelet. I’ve been placing my bracelet in front of my yoga mat when I practice, and it serves as a powerful reminder to keep believing and living the intentions I set in Aruba.
Travel Adventures. One of the reasons I love to travel is for the opportunities it provides to try new things. I mean, when would I ever get the chance in northeast Ohio to let garra ruffa fish nibble on my feet for a delightful spa treatment? (I’ll be writing a blog post with more about this adventure soon.)
Or, get to snorkel in crystal blue Caribbean waters in search of sea turtles and starfish?
Or, take a standup paddleboard (SUP) yoga class? (Well, actually, I can do this on Lake Erie, but lying peacefully on the boards with our hands in the water during savasana and knowing we were close enough to float to Venezuela was pretty darn awesome!)
Beach Yoga Bliss. Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa has the BEST outdoor pavilions for beach yoga and a gorgeous beach if you decide you want to venture out onto the sand. The view from the beach pavilion of the Caribbean Sea and palm trees is absolutely sublime.
We even used the spa deck one night for a restorative yoga session with yoga therapy balls.
Manchebo Rocks. I can’t say enough good things about Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa. The staff are so friendly and helpful, the grounds are gorgeous, and you don’t get that packed-in, claustrophobic feeling like at some other resorts I’ve been to. The staff took really good care of us, especially Carla who went above and beyond the call of duty to get up at 5 AM to drive us to the sunrise hike! This is a beach resorts that caters to yogis!
Goddess Power. When you go on a yoga retreat for the first time, one of the unexpected delights is getting to meet a group of fabulous yogis who will soon become lifelong friends. I’ve seen it time and time again – the connection that forms between retreat participants – and I am so grateful for the community of goddesses that blossomed on this retreat and the new friendships that I gained.
Crazy Awesomeness. If you know me, you know that I use (and maybe even overuse) the word awesome in my vocabulary. So imagine my delight when I was showing the beach pavilion to Holly at the beginning of the week and I said, “awesome, huh?” Her reply with a big grin on her face was, “It’s crazy awesome.” And so it began: “Crazy awesome” became the other catch phrase of the week, and it is now officially a part of my vocabulary. Thanks for the inspiration, Holly!
Big hugs to Jen, Liz, and Karly at The Travel Yogi for all your help in making this retreat come to life! I love working with you and can’t wait for my next retreat in Santorini, Greece, coming in September 12-19, 2015 (stay tuned I’ll be releasing all the details on that in the next few weeks). I loved Aruba so much this year I may just need to sneak in another Manchebo retreat before heading to Santorini.
Stay tuned to my Yoga Retreats & Workshop page here on the DDD for retreat announcements to come! The next Beach Yoga Bliss retreat will be September 11–14, 2014, on Kelleys Island in Ohio.
I’m sending big love and gratitude to Amy, Kim, Elyse, Holly, Esther, Debbie, Sue, and Holly for sharing their yoga practices with me, and helping to make my dreams come true. You yogini goddesses are the reason why Beach Yoga Bliss II was crazy awesome!
Book you space now before this retreat fills up.
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!
