For some reason, my life crazy busy right now…two weddings in the last month, doctors appointments of all types (dentist, chiropractor, GYN, vet), teaching yoga, managing my business, visiting family in DE one weekend, catching up with long-lost friends on facebook (which I’m so behind on), dining with friends locally, staying on top of the house. The list is endless. I feel like the one thing keeping me sane is my daily yoga practice. As crazy busy as I feel, my yoga offers calm. … [Read more...]
Revealing Thoughts on Balance in Yoga and Life
Yoga Sutra II: 46 reads “sthira sukham asanam” in Sanskrit. Translation: Asana is a steady comfortable posture. Asana means “seat or posture”, and is defined by two qualities: sthira and sukha, stability and comfort. Yoga teaches us to seek balance between opposing forces - strength (sthira) and ease (sukha), comfort and discomfort, heaviness and lightness. This essential lesson can offer freedom in life, grace on the yoga mat and bring peace to our hearts. Often times, finding balance is … [Read more...]
Writing from the Heart
Even though I never enjoyed writing, I started this yoga blog as a fun way to communicate with my students. Of course I wondered, would people read it? What would I write on a regular basis? Shockingly, a lot of people actually like what I write. Who knew my yoga off the mat would be interesting or even the least bit inspirational. Who knew so many people, including my grandparents (Grandmom and Pop-Pop) and yogis from around the world, would be avid readers and comment on things I write. … [Read more...]
Why OM?
To start with, to Om is to chant. Chanting is simply the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or phrases. Chanting is a beautiful way to bring more life to your asana practice. Om is the oldest chant in India. Om, considered to be an all-pervading sound in the universe, connects us to everything around us and within us. Comprised of three syllables –A, U, M – Om is pronounced AhhOohMmm. Typically, at least one of these syllables is the first sound a baby makes. In a yoga class, Om is … [Read more...]
Discipline
Discipline is practice. Practice is discipline. Meditation takes both practice and discipline. I’m reading Judith Lasater’s Living Your Yoga for the third time. What’s different this time is I’ve decided to actually follow-through with the suggested practices at the end of each chapter. They are practices and discipline is required. Coincidentally, the first chapter I’m working on (chapter 2) is titled “Discipline”. For the next month, I have decided to commit to practicing one thing 15 … [Read more...]
Honor Yourself
To “honor yourself, just as you are” can be a challenge for many of us. It can be refreshing to try it and your yoga mat can be a great place to start this habit. Resist judging yourself (why can’t I xxx?). Resist blaming yourself or feeling guilty (why me?). Instead try offering yourself compliments, forgiveness and most of all, compassion. Offer yourself a smile when you fall out of a pose, or look in the mirror, rather thoughts of criticism. Yoga teaches us how to change our … [Read more...]