Thoughts on Yoga, Suffering and Relationships
Do you ever find yourself telling someone off in your head?
Or that you’re imagining a conversation you are going to have with someone who has hurt you where you finally get to put them in their place? Okay, maybe it’s just me. But why is letting go, especially when it comes to relationships, so difficult sometimes?
I think it is because these moments of challenge have something to teach us.
Right now my inner spiritual warrior/punk rebel yogini is fighting my urge to be passive-aggressive (oh, how I want to formulate the perfect cutting text message) and reminding me of how grateful I am for my mindfulness practices, my commitment to something bigger than me and the ancient wisdom of yogis.
So, I will not commit violence towards another with my words (yep, this includes text messages). I will not assume to know another’s truth. I will act with awareness of a higher purpose and I will give thanks to the other person for being my teacher in this moment.
Can you relate? I wish I could say that I am this mindful in all of my relationships and in every moment, but that is just not the case. I can say however that with practice, I am becoming less reactive and more intentional in my relationships.
Becoming more aware of our interpersonal dynamics can be especially challenging and deep work but it provides a great opportunity for learning and a “real life” example of finding freedom from suffering. Yoga practice, meditation, studying the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (specifically Sadhana Pada and the 8 Limb Path) and the Bhagavad Gita are so helpful in this regard.
To sum it up: Life is a really great teacher. You just have to pay attention.
Feel free to share you’re thoughts below! Oh, and speaking of punk rebel yoginis … what do you think of my Ganesh tattoo design in progess?
Lots of Love,
This Craigslist Ad Cracked Me Up!
I realize it has been a while since my last blog post but this ad for a used yoga mat and the story of how it came to be was making the rounds on Facebook today and I found it worthy of a quick share. If you have ever taken a hot yoga class, you just might relate.
Does anyone know the author? Are there any updates since it was published on 9/13/11?
Yoga mat for sale. Used once. – $1 (Bellevue)
Yoga mat for sale. Used once at lunch hour class in December 2009. Usage timeline as follows:
11:45a
Register for hot yoga class. Infinite wisdom tells me to commit to 5 class package and purchase a yoga mat. I pay $89.74. Money well spent, I smugly confirm to myself.11:55a
Open door to yoga room. A gush of hot dry air rushes through and past me. It smells of breath, sweat and hot. Take spot on floor in back of room next to cute blonde. We will date.11:57a
I feel the need to be as near to naked as possible. This is a problem because of the hot blonde to my left and our pending courtship. She will not be pleased to learn that I need to lose 30 pounds before I propose to her.11:58a
The shirt and sweats have to come off. I throw caution to the wind and decide to rely on my wit and conditioning to overcome any weight issues my fiancée may take issue with. This will take a lot of wit and conditioning.11:59a
Begin small talk with my bride to be. She pretends to ignore me but I know how she can be. I allow her to concentrate and stare straight ahead and continue to pretend that I don’t exist. As we finish sharing our special moment, I am suddenly aware of a sweat moustache that has formed below my nose. This must be from the all the whispering between us.12:00p
Instructor enters the room and ascends her special podium at the front of the room. She is a slight, agitated Chinese woman. She introduces me to the class and everyone turns around to greet me just as I decide to aggressively adjust my penis and testes packed in my Under Armor. My bride is notably unfazed.12:02p
Since I do have experience with Hot Yoga (4 sessions just 5 short years ago) I fully consider that I may be so outstanding and skilled that my instructor may call me out and ask me to guide the class. My wife will look on with a sparkle in her eye. We will make love after class.12:10p
It is now up to 95 degrees in the room. We have been practicing deep breathing exercises for the last 8 minutes. This would not be a problem if we were all breathing actual, you know, oxygen. Instead, we are breathing each other’s body odor, expelled carbon dioxide and other unmentionables. (Don’t worry, I’ll mention them later.)12:26p
It is now 100 degrees and I take notice of the humidity, which is hovering at about 90%. I feel the familiar adorning stare of my bride and decide to look back at her. She appears to be nauseated. I then realize that I forgot to brush my teeth prior to attending this class. We bond.12:33p
It is now 110 degrees and 95% humidity. I am now balancing on one leg with the other leg crossed over the other. My arms are intertwined and I am squatting. The last time I was in this position was 44 years ago in the womb, but I’m in this for the long haul. My wife looks slightly weathered dripping sweat and her eyeliner is streaming down her face. Well, “for better or worse” is what we committed to so we press on.12:40p
The overweight Hispanic man two spots over has sweat running down his legs. At least I think its sweat. He is holding every position and has not had a sip of water since we walked in. He is making me look bad and I hate him.12:44p
I consider that if anyone in this room farted that we would all certainly perish.12:52p
It is now 140 degrees and 100% humidity. I am covered from head to toe in sweat. There is not a square millimeter on my body that is not slippery and sweaty. I am so slimy that I feel like a sea lion or a maybe sea eel. Not even a bear trap could hold me. The sweat is stinging my eyeballs and I can no longer see.12:55p
This room stinks of asparagus, cloves, tuna and tacos. There is no food in the room. I realize that this is an amalgamation of the body odors of 30 people in a 140 degree room for the last 55 minutes. Seriously, enough with the asparagus, ok?1:01p
140 degrees and 130% humidity. Look, bitch, I need my space here so don’t get all pissy with me if I accidentally sprayed you with sweat as I flipped over. Seriously, is that where this relationship is going? Get over yourself. We need counseling and she needs to be medicated. Stat!1:09p
150 degrees and cloudy. And hot. I can no longer move my limbs on my own. I have given up on attempting any of the commands this Chinese chick is yelling out at us. I will lay sedentary until the aid unit arrives. I will buy this building and then have it destroyed.
I lose consciousness.1:15p
I have a headache and my wife is being a selfish bitch. I can’t really breathe. All I can think about is holding a cup worth of hot sand in my mouth. I cannot remember what an ice cube is and cannot remember what snow looks like. I consider that my only escape might be a crab walk across 15 bodies and then out of the room. I am paralyzed, and may never walk again so the whole crab walk thing is pretty much out.1:17p
I cannot move at all and cannot reach my water. Is breathing voluntary or involuntary? If it’s voluntary, I am screwed. I stopped participating in the class 20 minutes ago. Hey, lady! I paid for this frickin class, ok?! You work for me! Stop yelling at everyone and just tell us a story or something. It’s like juice and cracker time, ok?1:20p
It is now 165 degrees and moisture is dripping from the ceiling. The towel that I am laying on is no longer providing any wicking or drying properties. It is actually placing additional sweat on me as I touch it. My towel reeks. I cannot identify the smell but no way can it be from me. Did someone spray some stank on my towel or something?1:30p
Torture session is over. I wish hateful things upon the instructor. She graciously allows us to stay and ‘cool down’ in the room. It is 175 degrees. Who cools down in 175 degrees? A Komodo Dragon? My wife has left the room. Probably to throw up.1:34p
My opportunity to escape has arrived. I roll over to my stomach and press up to my knees. It is warmer as I rise up from ground level – probably by 15 degrees. So let’s conservatively say it’s 190. I muster my final energy and slowly rise. One foot in front of the other. One foot in front of the other. Towards the door. Towards the door.1:37p
The temperature in the lobby is 72 degrees. Both nipples stiffen to diamond strength and my penis begins to retract into my abdomen from the 100 degree temp swing. I can once again breathe though so I am pleased. I spot my future ex wife in the lobby. We had such a good thing going but I know that no measure of counseling will be able to unravel the day’s turmoil and mental scaring.1:47p
Arrive at Emerald City Smoothie and proceed to order a 32 oz beverage. 402 calories, 0 fat and 14 grams of protein — effectively negating any caloric burn or benefit from the last 90 minutes. I finish it in 3 minutes and spend the next 2 hours writing this memoir.3:47p
Create Craigslist ad while burning final 2 grams of protein from Smoothie and before the “shakes” consume my body.4:29p
Note to self – check car for missing wet yoga towel in am.
The mat costs $1. The chuckles are free. 
You can view the ad here. I would personally like to thank the author of the ad for the much needed chuckles today. So, did you get many emails? Did you have any takers? I would love a follow up ad!
Yours in Yoga LOLs,
My Bikram Yoga 60 Day Challenge: Final Recap and What I’ve Been Doing Since
My 60 Day Challenge was intense to say the least.
It was so intense in fact that for the almost 60 days following my final class, I have barely blogged at all and my practice has been on the other end of the yoga spectrum – lots of yin, gentle and restorative yoga and japa meditation at home.
I didn’t intend for things to go this way. Actually, I assumed I would maintain a regular Bikram practice with 1-2 classes per week. Instead I intuitively shifted my energy to balance the intensity of 60 days of Bikram Yoga and daily blogging (um, yeah, that was a lot of extra for this introvert). I have really enjoyed the quiet reflection, stillness and cozy home time.
I am grateful for all that was revealed to me during my 60 day challenge. It was an incredible experience, the lessons of which I will always remember and keep with me as I continue my yoga journey. As I am writing this, I feel refreshed and balanced. I am inspired to dive deep into my yoga education. I have already made plans to attend additional teacher trainings and intensives throughout the year.
“Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.” ~John Cotton Dana
If nothing else, 60 days of Bikram and blogging reminded me of how my own yoga practice and continuing education is an essential part of being a good yoga teacher. Becoming “the student” is humbling, deeply nourishing and helps me relate to and better serve my own students.
Because I haven’t posted it yet, here is the recap for my final week, classes 53 to 60.
Week 8 Recap
Day 53: Playing Catch Up
Days 54, 55 & 56: Oh, That’s Why It’s Called a Challenge
Day 57: Feeling A Shift
Day 58: You First
Day 59: At One with the Geek In Me
Day 60: I Did It!
Also, I would like to thank everyone that followed along throughout the 60 days and offered support and encouragement. Whether it was with a comment on a blog post or Facebook or by showing up to that hot room yourself, your offerings of love and friendship mean the world to me. Thank you.
And if you’re just tuning in and you’d like to learn more about my 60 Day Bikram Yoga Challenge, a good place to start is the beginning! Here are the links for your reading enjoyment … and thanks to you, too!
Lots of Love,
My Bikram Yoga 60 Day Challenge: Week 7 Recap
This week I experienced a major shift in my perspective. Oh, yeah.
It was enlightening to say the least. The shift occurred between Days 48 and 49. Click on the links below to read all about it. Although, I have to say, my personal favorite is the post where I compare my Bikram Yoga class to the movie Tron Legacy.
Week 7 Recap:
Day 45: Thinking About a 30 Day Add On
Day 46: I’m On Fire
Days 47 & 48: Are We There Yet?
Day 49: Best Class Ever
Day 50: A Random Moment of Connection
Day 51: Food for Thought
Day 52: Home Stretch Anxiety
It’s hard to believe 7 weeks have flown by! Feel free to visit the Bikram Yoga Asheville Blog to see what I’ve been up to since the last post. If you do, please leave a comment over there to let me know you stopped by!
Keep it Sweaty,
My Bikram Yoga 60 Day Challenge: Week 6 Recap
6 weeks and 42 classes complete. Woohoo!
Every day of practice brings something new to the table. I am loving it. In this week of blog posts I talk about what time of day I prefer to practice Bikram Yoga and I share my tips for doing 2 Bikram classes in one day … among other miscellaneous ramblings.
Week 6 Recap:
Feel free to visit the Bikram Yoga Asheville Blog to see what I’ve been up to. If you do, please leave a comment over there to let me know you stopped by!
Yours in Sweatiness,
My Bikram Yoga 60 Day Challenge: Week 5 Recap
Ooh, this was a GOOD week.
I had a lot of fun writing about my many breakthroughs and observances this week. Check it out. The links to my daily posts are below.
Week 5 Recap:
Day 32: Cheaper Than Therapy Part 2
Days 33 & 34: We Are The Champions
I am officially more than half way there! I’d like to say thanks to everyone (yes, I mean you!) for your continued encouragement and support during the past 5 weeks. If you have any questions about why I am doing this challenge, Bikram or hot yoga, please post in a comment below. Thanks for reading!
Also, feel free to visit the Bikram Yoga Asheville Blog to see what I’ve been up to. If you do, please leave a comment over there to let me know you stopped by!
Yours in Sweatiness,
My Bikram Yoga 60 Day Challenge: Week 4 Recap
I’ll keep it short and sweet and let you get right to the good stuff.
Click on the links below to read about the 4th week of my Bikram Yoga 60 Day challenge. For those of you just tuning in, I have committed to doing 60 Bikram Yoga classes in 60 days and to blog about it, too. I hope you enjoy reading and please feel free to post any questions you might have about Bikram Yoga, hot yoga or 60 day challenges. Thanks!
Week 4 Recap:
Day 23: The Absent Minded Yogini
I’ll be posting my week 5 recap soon. Feel free to visit the Bikram Yoga Asheville Blog to see what I’ve been up to. If you do, please leave a comment over there to let me know you stopped by!
Keep it Sweaty,
My Bikram Yoga 60 Day Challenge: Week 3 Recap
Whew! This 60 day challenge has been a whirlwind of ups and downs, discoveries and letting go. I am learning so much. And writing about my experience has been such a gift. I am really enjoying how I am, in a way, re-living my introduction to Hatha Yoga.
Week 3 Recap:
Day 17: Suck It Up and Keep Going
Day 22: Forehead to Knee Connection
I’ll be posting my week 4 recap soon. Feel free to visit the Bikram Yoga Asheville Blog to see what I’ve been up to. If you do, please leave a comment over there to let me know you stopped by!
Yours in Sweatiness,
My Bikram Yoga 60 Day Challenge: Week 2 Recap
Whew! I am already into my 3rd week of Bikram Yoga and feeling great. What I love most is how my commitment to completing 60 classes in 60 days has me practicing daily. No excuses. I am tired some days and super-charged others but I never regret going to yoga class.
Here is a recap of my 2nd week:
Day 8: Change and Growth is Constant
I’ll see you next week for another recap … OR you could visit the Bikram Yoga Asheville Blog daily to see what I’ve been up to. If you do, please leave a comment over there to let me know you stopped by!
Yours in Sweatiness,
My Bikram Yoga 60 Day Challenge – Week 1 Recap
My experience with returning to my Bikram Yoga roots is going well. I feel amazing. I have lots of energy and my skin is glowing most fabulously. I now have 1 full week under my belt and a total of 7 classes completed.
Here’s the recap:
Day 3: Setting Myself Up To Succeed
Day 4: How I Love to Hate Half Moon Pose
Day 5: You Know You’re a Bikram Yogi If …
That’s all for now folks. Please leave a comment on the Bikram Yoga Asheville blog to let me know you stopped by.
Thanks!!
I’m Going Back to Bikram
Gulp. Grin. Repeat.
I just signed up to participate in my first 60 Day Challenge at Bikram Yoga Asheville. My goal is to complete 60 Bikram Yoga classes in 60 days. For added fun, I will be blogging about my experience. I am doing this over on their blog which means I probably won’t be posting here as often. I will post weekly updates here with links to my daily entries and who knows, I might be able to squeeze in a YouTube video or two. Here is my first post for Bikram Yoga Asheville:
Back to Bikram
The first yoga class I ever attended was a Bikram Yoga class in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 2000. I had never heard of Bikram Yoga. I wasn’t looking for Bikram Yoga specifically. I had no idea that the room was going to be hot. I had simply opened the phone book and located a yoga studio close to where I was living at the time. The studio was called The Yoga College of India. Sounded perfect.
It has been over 10 years and I still remember that very first class. I vividly recall the look on the teacher’s face when I told her, almost bragging, that I had some experience with yoga as I had been practicing at home with an AM/PM Yoga DVD and some books I had purchased at the local Super-Book-Store. She said while nodding supportively, “Yeah, this is a little different. Just stand in the back of the room and do what you can.”
Looking back, I don’t really know what drove me to seek out that first yoga class. I was 20 years old and seeing a therapist for chronic depression. So, perhaps my therapist suggested it. Perhaps the AM/PM Yoga DVD I was so proud of was a suggestive sale at Target and I wanted to learn more than just 15 minute sequences. I simply don’t remember.
And really it doesn’t matter. I’m just glad I did walk into that steamy Yoga College and sweat my way through 26 yoga postures and two breathing exercises. Because what followed over the months to come I can only describe as, well, transformational. More …
Continue reading the full post here.
Please leave a comment over there to let me know you stopped by. As always, thanks for your support!
Lots of Love,
Mindful Monday Recap: Living Your Yoga in 2011 #365yoga
One of my favorite things about blogs and social media networks is the way in which they foster community and support. Perhaps this is because I am already accustomed to, and really enjoy this aspect of my life (you know, the part when I’m not on the computer). Yoga studios, teachers and practitioners do the exact some thing every day by creating meaningful relationships, by reaching out to one another with questions and guidance and by engaging in conversations about what really matters to them.
So, thanks yoga bloggers, for bringing that community, support and authenticity online.
For this week’s Mindful Monday post, I thought I would share with you some of the amazing recent developments in the online yoga world. It is truly inspiring.
#354yoga is a movement of yogi tweeters and bloggers who are intentionally creating a space to support their dedication to their path and deepening their commitment to themselves and to yoga. I love it.
It began with a tweet. Read Nancy’s post on her blog, Flying Yogini to learn how #365yoga started and what it means to live your yoga every day. Then, subscribe to Flying Yogini to follow Nancy’s journey and insights. Thanks, Nancy, for getting the ball rolling!! Follow Nancy on Twitter at @yoga_mydrishti.
I am loving Sarah’s 365 posts on her blog, Sarahsana. So, definitely head on over there and do some reading. Her most recent post is titled The Yoga of Jack White and it totally caught me off guard with how deep and insightful it is. Simply beautiful – Chaturanga push-ups for your life. Thanks, Sarah! Your yoga is beautiful and inspiring. Follow Sarah on Twitter at @SarahKohl.
YogaDork is joining in on the fun and kicking it off with a super-duper giveaway. 10 YogaDork readers will receive a copy of Judith Hanson Lasater’s book, A Year of Living Your Yoga: Daily Practices to Shape Your Life, followed by an interview with Judith Hanson Lasater and regular #365yoga posts. Thanks YogaDork for helping to spread this message to a larger audience and for providing a forum of support and all kinds of yoga goodness. Follow @YogaDork on Twitter.
Want to get involved? There are many ways to join the 365yoga community (hint: you already are). You can follow along by typing the #365yoga hashtag into a Twitter search. Share your year of yoga by adding the hashtag #365yoga to your tweets. Journal or blog about your experience. Post status updates on Facebook, create a photo journal, or simply read others’ posts and leave comments to share your thoughts.
As for me, I will be joining in as well with regular #365yoga posts and tweets (follow me @lindsayyoga) as well as more yoga videos and giveaways! Yippee!!
Are you blogging about your #365yoga journey? Are you a fellow yoga tweeter? Please share a link to your blog and/or your Twitter handle so that we can stay in touch, share and continue to inspire each other.
Yours in Gratitude,
Yoga to the Rescue: The Other Side of Confusion
Have you made your resolutions for 2011?
I can’t say that I’ve ever been in the habit of listing my New Year’s Resolutions at the years end. For one, I am constantly striving to be a better me. My goals and inspirations come to me throughout the year. However, this awareness of my un-involvement in, and in fact apathy for this very popular tradition has me indulging in introspection.
Is it because in the past I haven’t seen myself as the deliberate creator that I am? Am I prone to a victim mindset (you know, faulting the economy, the job market, my upbringing, and other endless excuses)? I am simply too lazy to take responsibility for my life?
The question often contains the answer
Ouch. The truth sure stings sometimes. Still, I prefer it to living a life of illusion (not the Joe Walsh song – actually, I really like that song). With all of this in mind, I have begun a new practice, a “resolution” if you will. When I have a tendency to question, I turn it into a statement. The result is that I find clarity where there was previously floundering. With clarity I am more likely to take action. It is like this: When I state that I haven’t recognized my power for intentional living and that I use excuses to let myself off the hook and that I can claim my power and my responsibility at any moment, a pretty wonderful thing happens. I know what my next step is.
Practice is the key word here. I am not always as present for myself as I intend to be. Fortunately, my default response to feeling knocked off my center is internalization and questioning. And as I mentioned earlier, the question and the answer are usually very close indeed.
Bonus: I always have my yoga practice which continues to reveal me to me.
Yoga Sequence for Clarity and Inspiration
I have designed this short asana sequence to relax and sooth stressed nerves and reveal a clear headed, confident state of mind. Practice when you feel confused or unclear about what you want, your life purpose or simply what you should do next.
So there it is, my gift to you as we enter this new year (and new decade!). Please return to it whenever you need. I plan on posting more videos soon. Please let me know if you have any requests.
Also, I would love to hear your thoughts about this video or about your New Year’s resolutions. How do you find clarity amidst the chaos? Please share!
Happy New Year!
Mindful Monday Recap: 6 Year Old Yogi, Mantras and The Un-Indian Experience
Happy Mindful New Year!
Kick off your week and your New Year with some yoga-related reading. Here is a quick recap of some blog posts and articles that I have read recently and wanted to share. Good stuff.
If you haven’t already, check out My Yoga Hot Spot: 2010′s Greatest Hits for some fun and useful yoga reading. I am celebrating and saying goodbye to the past year of yoga blogging and moving into 2011 with one word in mind … Wheeeeeee!!!!
Yoga: A Positively Un-Indian Experience This post recently make the rounds on the social networks and sparked some interesting conversations and re-sparked the Yoga/Hinduism debate.
I think this is pretty neat-o. World’s youngest yoga teacher, six, hailed as a miracle at Indian ashram It reminds me of my little girl and how she teaches me yoga on occasion.
Release to Receive Beauty and insight from the Chopra Center. The idea of releasing the past in order to receive the future is something I have heard and read about before, yet is is always good advice.
A Monday Morning Mantra for the New Year via the YOGANONYMOUS blog. I have tuned in for these posts for a couple of weeks now and I love them. Thoughtful. Inspired. Honest.
My friends in hotness, Moksha Yoga, have themselves a really fabulous website complete with Yoga Posture Tip of the Month videos. January’s tip is Savasana, Corpse Pose – one of my personal favs. They also share Green Living video tips and I am loving it.
Last but not least, from Yoga Journal, read about The Sweet Simplicity of Om
So, read it up already and have yourselves a super mindful week!
Love,
My Yoga Hot Spot: 2010′s Greatest Hits
Today is January 2nd, 2011 and I am saying my goodbyes to 2010
Yes, I am fully aware that I am a little behind in my New Year’s themed posts. I did consider not posting this and simply going ahead with my 2011. But I decided that it was worth it to honor 2010 with a simple blog post so that I can move forward with a sense of completion and that fresh-all-over feeling that the new year can bring. So much has happened in the past 12 months. I will spare you the play-by-play but basically, to sum it up, it was all I could ever ask for. I have grown. I have had fun. I have opened myself up in new and exciting ways. I am doing what I love. And I have the support of friends and family and you, my readers all over the world. So, thanks … really, thanks!
So here it is, Some of My Yoga Hot Spot’s most memorable posts from 2010.
1. 10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Hot Yoga
2. 26 Hot Yoga Quotes and Some Smokin’ HOT Photos, Too!
3. Foot Yoga – Foga? How yoga and stretching your feet can help with pain, stress and more! [VIDEO]
4. You Know You’re a Hot Yogi If …
5. Bringing Your Yoga Practice Off of Your Mat
More Goodies From 2010
- 6. How I Came to Understand Children’s Yoga ~ My elephantjournal.com debut!
- 7. My Aha Moment Experience: Mom Was Right, Sharing is Good.
- 8. Cool It, Man! Try Some Minty Water [RECIPE] – Hot Yoga Hydration Tips
- 9. Meditation For New Yoga Teachers
- 10. The Yoga of Relationships – Moving from Anger to Forgiveness [VIDEO]
I have some truly fabulous stuff planned for 2011. I am so excited I can hardly stand it. In a word … Wheeeeeeee!!!!!
Love,
My Nomination for Best Line in A Christmas Song … Ever.
Happy Holy Days!
Mysteriously missing from George Orwell’s portrayal of the era, this 1984 video with Dolly and Kenny has me longing for a sparkly, fur-trimmed vest and nostalgically smiling from the inside out. And in the words of Buddy the Elf, “I love smiling. Smiling’s my favorite.“
So, what is the best line? Unfortunately, when I tell you, it is going to reveal me as the immature, giggling freak that I am.
Are you ready? Okay, here it is:
“I have fantasized about a Christmas in this way
Curled up by a fireplace in a Tahoe ski chalet
With a fast talking lover and some slow burning wood.”
Get it? Ugh. I can hear your eyes rolling from here. Seriously.
So, I know I haven’t been posting very often lately, but come January 2011, I will be back at it with Mindful Mondays, Strike a Yoga Pose Saturdays and more …. oh, and plenty of yoga goodies and giveaways, too! I can hardly wait.
Wishing you the Happiest of Holidays and a Brilliant 2011.
Love,
Friday Favorites: Cats Playing Patty-Cake
It is amazing what goes viral on YouTube.
And I am pretty sure that funny cat videos are at the top of list of the most viewed viral videos … ever.
That said, I watched a lot of non-cat videos this week including one I found in a wonderful post by Young Yoga Masters that explained how human beings are wired to experience empathy and posed questions as to the evolutionary implications of this phenomenon.
Also, I viewed the follow up TED Talk by Sir Ken Robinson in which he continues the discussion about the nature of our educational system. If you haven’t seen the original video, watch it. It’s brilliant and funny and despite the title, Do Schools Kill Creativity? it is actually quite a positive perspective.
And the video I chose to share with you today?
Cats. Duh.
Cats Playing Patty-Cake (or is it pat-a-cake?) at that. This video is delightfully absurd and surprise, surprise has over 1 million views in less than 1 month. The Sir Ken Robinson video is over 4 years old and has just a few hundred thousand more. Hmmm …
Cats sell.
So, while I may have roped you in with these irresistible cats. I do hope you check out the other videos I mentioned as well (links are in the red text above). They are worth your time for sure – at least as much as funny cat videos.
Love,
P.S. Stay tuned … this month’s yoga giveaway will be posted soon!
Friday Favorites: Beautiful Vinyasa Yoga Video
I love everything about this video – the music, the editing, the asana.
A friend of mine forwarded this to me a couple of days ago. It is definitely my favorite YouTube find of the week. I am even considering updating my Top 5 Yoga-Related YouTube Moments to include it. Enjoy!
Phillip Askew New York City Vinyasa
P.S. You might recognize Phillip Askew from another breathtaking yoga video Variations on Surya Namaskara.
You Know You’re a Hot Yogi If …
So, you go to Hot Yoga class regularly. You know all the teachers. You have a group of yoga class friends. You even have your own “spot” in the room. Despite all of this and the fact that you grab every opportunity to rave about hot yoga to your non-yogi friends, and you’re pretty sure that yoga can cure anything (really, anything), you are still not convinced that you have earned the title of Hot Yogi/ni.
Well, here are some more indications, some clues if you will, that might help shed some light:
You Know You’re a Hot Yogi If …
You practice standing head-to-knee pose while putting your shoes and socks on.
You turn up the heat to do housework.
You’re laundry routine (which is a daily occurrence) includes baking soda and vinegar.
You freak out when you run out of electrolyte supplements.
You spend an uncommon amount of time thinking, perhaps even discussing, your digestion/elimination habits.
When people complain about the heat outside, you find yourself giving them a dirty look.
You do not use body lotion because if you do your Standing Bow Pose will suffer.
When you drink a glass of wine, you think, “Ooh, I’m gonna pay for THAT in yoga class.”
You 80/20 breathe through childbirth.
You tremble (with excitement and/or dread) when you hear the word Camel.
And …
You are already familiar with the 10 Things They Don’t Tell You About Hot Yoga.
Thanks for reading and feel free to add to this list.
Keep it Sweaty,
Friday Favorites: Wowy Cool Meditation Video
Change your thoughts and you change your world. -Norman Vincent Peale
Admittedly, I am a bit of a YouTube junkie. Here is one of my favorites finds of late. This video depicts the transformation that occurs through the discipline of meditation practice.
Or, if you’d prefer you can read this elephantjournal.com post: Top 20 thoughts to think while pretending to meditate. Both are equally enjoyable.
Happy Friday!
The Yoga of Relationships – Moving from Anger to Forgiveness [VIDEO]
The Yoga Microcosm Effect.
The more I practice yoga, the more I see my body as a symbolic representation of the non-physical me. While in a yoga pose I notice the subtle relationships in my body, for example, the relationship between the breath and the tension in my body and also the relationship between my feet and my spine. Honesty and good communication are important elements in a healthy relationship and the key to those things is awareness.
In this short video, I discuss how yoga and cultivation of awareness can be a useful tool in creating the kinds of relationships you want in your life. Specifically, I describe how I moved from anger and pain in a relationship to forgiveness and freedom.
I would love to hear your thoughts about this. Have you noticed the lessons of a yoga pose having an effect on your life outside of the yoga mat? How has yoga helped you create healthy relationships in your life?
Post your comments below.
Lots of Love,
Mindful Monday Recap: Yoga Bloggin’ Goodness
Be Yourself. Everyone Else is Taken. -Oscar Wilde
Whew! It has been a few weeks since I posted a Mindful Monday Recap. It’s like that John Lennon song says, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” Totally.
So, I recently experienced a technology meltdown with my iPod and my laptop (not making excuses or anything) and I’d be lying if I said it made me crazy and twitchy with withdrawal. I actually enjoyed the break.
But, I’m back! My technologies have been restored and here’s what I’ve been reading recently. There seems to be a common theme in these posts. Maybe you can tell me what it is. Enjoy!
This Yoga. That Yoga. Real Yoga. Fake Yoga. My Yoga. Your Yoga. It’s ALL YOGA. Read this awesome post from the brilliant Y is for Yogini: 10 ways I am “unyogic” { and don’t give a #%&* }
Another on of my favorite yoga blogs, Yoga for Cynics begins this post ” …with debates raging on about commercialism, body image, and what should and shouldn’t be termed “yoga,” I’m pleased to announce the impending publication of my new translation of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras … re-titled, for the sake of commercial viability, Patanjali’s 196 Secrets for Tight Buns and Rock Hard Abs…” Don’t you want to read more?
I love this post over at The Everything Yoga Blog. She writes about questioning yoga authority and the infamous Yoga Rebel, Krishnamacharya.
This post is beautiful in its simplicity. From Yogic Muse: Yoga is our nature. Brooks is also rockin’ things over at elephantjournal.com
More beauty and simplicity via The Mad Yogi Poet … this one is titled, Be Your Self. The rest will follow.
Don’t forget to read my elephantjournal.com debut about doing yoga with my kids.
Also, my current giveaway is for an Aurorae Yoga Mat and Slip Free Package. Ends 9/27/10.
Thanks for stopping by!
Love,
Image: Stefano Valle / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
My Favorite Bill Hicks Video – It’s Just a Ride
Human. Hilarious. Honest. Hicks.
He smoked. He swore. He challenged mainstream society and consumerism and inspired people to think for themselves. He was criticized and censored when he was alive. Now, thanks to the miracle of YouTube, his message lives on.
This is my favorite Bill Hicks YouTube moment. It is titled, “It’s Just a Ride” and I can’t help but get all “yoga dorky” when I watch it.
The yoga teachings of William Melvin Hicks.
I especially love this part:
“It’s just a ride. And we can change it anytime we want. It’s only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings of money. A choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear wants you to put bigger locks on your door, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead see all of us as one.” -Bill Hicks
What do you think? Did you notice the yoga?
I choose LOVE,
How I Came to Understand Children’s Yoga ~ My elephantjournal.com debut!
My elephantjournal.com debut!
I am so excited about this. The community of bloggers and thoughtful people over at elephantjournal.com are a huge inspiration to me. It is one of my favorite places to hang out online and if you head on over there and look around a bit, you will see why.
I would be truly honored if you would read my very first post for elephantjournal.com and leave a comment there and even share with your friends and social networks (that would be awesome!).
My Children, My Gurus
As a mother of two, I know parenting to be one the most challenging and rewarding endeavors one can experience in life.
I am grateful to have found myself seeing the world through my children’s eyes as they explore with reckless abandon and plenty of giggles. There’s nothing quite like a big squishy hug and an “I love you, Mommy” after a long day of enforcing boundaries and worrying about their safety.
As a yoga teacher, I find sharing yoga with others to be incredibly rewarding as well. You can learn a lot by having to explain something to someone and by seeing people become empowered to participate in life mindfully and compassionately. Why it never occurred to me that combining the two (children and yoga) could be such a profound experience is beyond me.
So, it happened by chance that I stumbled upon the amazing gift of teaching yoga to children and I have my beautiful 6 year old daughter, Tobin, to thank for it. Continue reading on elephantjournal …
Thanks for your support!!
Previously published here on my blog in December 2009.
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