perspective

This was my view from headstand today. Sometimes you just need to look at something from a different angle and your whole perspective changes. 

trust in partnership

This morning in class I led a cool down with some partner yoga. In asana practice we focus on our breath, our body, our mind. When we start to take poses with a partner it allows us to practice trust. It's normal to feel a little nervous or anxious at the beginning, especially if you're working with someone you don't know...but this is where the beauty of trust comes in. You get to experience the rhythm of your own breath as well as your partner's. You can feel the same energy in your partner that's within you... a reminder that we are more the same than we are different. 

overcoming fear of headstand

This is my dear friend Cheryl conquering her fear of headstand! If you have fear of this pose or a neck injury, using blocks to prop yourself up is a great option. The blocks provide stability and absorb some of your body weight to take pressure off of your neck. A partner to spot you is also a great thing to help you with the fear. Great job Cheryl! Love you! 

yoga retreat

I was extremely fortunate and grateful to have spent this past week in a yoga retreat with Paula Tursi and Vidya Sykes http://reflectionsyoga.flexibilityapp.com. 

We spent the week practicing yoga in its complete form (the 8 limbs of yoga as compiled by Patanjali) and I feel so balanced and inspired to practice all 8 limbs with more consistency. Most of us think of yoga as the "sport" of yoga... We think of the crazy shapes that people contort their bodies into, stretching, and relaxing and often forget or just simply aren't aware of the bigger picture of a yoga practice. These poses are only one of the 8 limbs of yoga, called asana, or posture. The remaining 7 limbs of yoga are the yamas, the niyamas, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi. 

It can be overwhelming to feel like we have to practice everything everyday. We set up overly ambitious goals for ourselves sometimes that aren't realistic to achieve, setting ourselves up for failure.  Even though I feel really inspired to practice all 8 limbs, it is not realistic to tell myself I will spend all day doing that.  This is not what yoga teaches us. The most important part of yoga is consistent practice. That can mean asana one day and pranayama the next day. It's just about what you need in any given moment. It can be as simple as doing 9 rounds of a simple sun salutation. It can be closing your eyes and feeling your breath for 5 minutes. 

To learn more about the 8 limbs of yoga, I recommend the book "The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali."

Happy practicing! 

Namaste

yogi playtime

Since my friend Marilou and I showed up to the beach in almost identical swim suits, of course we had to take yogi pictures together! It felt like a play date with a childhood friend! I think playtime is so important especially as adults. Life can be stressful and overwhelming sometimes but we should always make time to play. Life is not as serious as we make it out to be. So grab a friend and play! 

handstands at the sandbar

This was an amazing spot for a little yoga and handstand session... it's a skinny strip of sand sticking out of the ocean and the waves come crashing towards each other! Wow!

nadi shodhana pranayama

This morning I began class with nadi shodhana pranayama, or alternate nostril breathing. Besides ujjayi, it's one of my favorite breath controls because it creates balance and helps still the mind for meditation. I love to practice this breath when I feel tired or a little congested, it makes me feel reawakened and refreshed, yet peaceful all at the same time. 

How to perform the breath:

1.  With your right hand, place your thumb on your right nostril at the bridge of the nose, your pointer and middle fingers can be placed at your third eye or curled in resting on your nose, your ring and pinky fingers on the left nostril at the bridge of the nose. 

2.  Closing the left nostril with the pinky, inhale through the right nostril, (pausing for the count of three).  

3.  Close the right nostril with the thumb, and exhale through the left, (pausing for a count of three). 

4.  Inhale through the left (pausing...). 

5.  Exhale though the right (pausing...). 

6.  Repeat the cycle (you'll be starting on the right again) for about 5-10 rounds. 

7.  Return to a natural breath and observe how your mind and body feel (no labels, no judgements, just observations). 

Now you're ready to meditate or dive into a vinyasa flow practice! 

Happy pranayama!