Tag-Archive for » Practice «

Sanctuary… Conveniently Squeezed into 2X6

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As I resume a regular routine of practice- the autumn always seems the season where I am most prone to structure- it occurred to me this morning that, regardless the disorganization or mess surrounding me, on the mat, if I allow, it all seems to dissolve into the atmosphere.

Not having an appropriate space, or an appropriately neat and tidied space, has always provided me with a handy dandy excuse to sit around watching Oprah with a bag of Miss Vickies put off practice, often delaying it until the day just gets away from me and then it’s time for bed and I collapse into the arms of JayLenoDavidLettermanConanOBrianDailyShow a good book and off into dream land with noble yogic intentions for the next day, where FOR SURE I will tidycleanvacuumredecoraterenovate the perfect space to best enjoy my practice.

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Shake, Shake, Shake! Utkatasana…

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Chris Carter, Artist

This is a posture I really do like…  oh yes.  In fact, it’s a posture I play with a little to give the old thighs something to really scream about!  As I near the end of my series of Sun Salutation A, I’m already anticipating the bliss in the delicious agony that is Powerful Pose… or to some, Awkward Chair Pose.

It’s a posture that challenges your focus.  Not unlike other postures, there’s a lot going on at once.  Utkatasana requires- no, demands- attention to everything happening in your body, with muscles calling out in unison, in synchronistic pleasure and pain, from nearly head to toe.

I really couldn’t describe it any better than the lovely Shiva Rea does here, so I’ll let her do the honours of offering the posture step-by-step.  I’ve included a little video supplement too…

Credit for watercolour yoga imagery goes with thanks to Chris Carter, watercolour and ink artist.

Downward Dog-gin’ It!

Adho Mukha SvanasanaWould I be in danger of being stoned… or possibly flayed… right here on my yoga mat if I admitted I don’t like Downward Facing Dog?

Occasionally, in the heat of Sun Salutations, I find some solace in taking the posture… sighing into it… but then, remembering my form, back to work.

Unlike Savasana, where the work is largely mental, with a hint of the spiritual, for me, Downward Dog requires considerable effort on all fronts: the mental, spiritual and just downright physical.

More often than not, the sigh- upon recalling there is proper form involved- is replaced by an “Ugh!”, uttered through the exhausted heave of my exhale… followed by shallow, inadequate breaths… until, finally- yes, finally- I embrace my last inhale and take my steps, depending on my level of energy, my hop forward to the exalted release of forward bend.

But, here’s the thing:  Downward Dog is supposed to be a posture of rejuvenation… of healing and renewal!  If this is the case… then why, why, WHY do I dislike it so?!

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Chocolate Yoga… God Must Be A Woman!

Look, I’m not sure I’m buying this trend exactly… but anything that involves chocolate warrants an open mind!!

The Positive Effects of Yoga on Body Image

For anyone who has experienced the power of the mind-body connection in yoga, the idea that yoga can have a positive influence over body image isn’ t really a surprise.  Truth be told in fact, for many, yoga is by its nature an effective facilitator for taking the focus off the body, and directing it towards the breath and inward.

OK.  So I may find myself, should I happen into an occasional class, perhaps a little self-conscious and wondering if the woman behind me is noticing my ever-creeping wedgie… but it takes but a brief re-direction, focusing the eyes forward and relaxed, gaze slightly downward, coordinating once again my movement with my breath… the breath… ahhhhhhh… the breath.  Later, wedgie.

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Little Yogis… by Wai Lana

Wanting to introduce your tiny tots to yoga? Wai Lana, one of the originals in bringing yoga to the mainstream… you’ve seen her, I know.

The beautiful woman, often balancing precariously on a rock overlooking the sea. Known as much for her long, black hair and flowers strewn about her head, as for her peaceful, picturesque locales.

Who better to inspire our little ones?

In Wai Lana’s Little Yogis™
Fun Exercise Book
how far can a grasshopper jump?  Where does oxygen come from?

With the Fun Exercise book, your kids will learn, laugh, and experience the wonderful benefits of yoga’s most playful poses. The whole family will love the hilarious characters, charming illustrations, and fun-filled activities.

Filled with secret waterfalls, pink elephants, silly monkeys, and rainbow butterflies, Wai Lana’s Fun Exercise captures the imagination while helping your kids grow strong, flexible, and focused.

It’s the perfect companion to her Little Yogis™ DVDs and CDs.

If you’d like it all-in-one, check out the full Fun Exercise Kit: Wai Lana’s Little Yogis.

• All kinds of fun exercises for strong bodies and sound minds
• Educational and entertaining
• Stimulates physical, mental, and emotional development
• 64 colorful pages, 11”x8”, hardbound


The Spinning Lotus: Sterling Silver Chain with Sterling Silver Tree of Life Circle Pendant

From the wonderful world of Etsy and TheSpinningLotus…

The Tree of Life is an important symbol in nearly every culture. With its branches reaching into the sky, and roots deep in the earth, it dwells in three worlds- a link between heaven, the earth, and the underworld, uniting above and below.

It is both a feminine symbol, bearing sustenance, and a masculine one.

18 inch Sterlng silver chain displays a Sterling Silver Tree Pendant (just more than 3/4′s inch wide). Perfect for bringing a peace and focus to your everyday wardrobe.

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If It’s Good Enough for Oprah….

I think by now everyone is familiar with Oprah’s revelatory January ’09 issue where she essentially came out of the closet about “falling off the wagon”.   While I, along with millions of others, have followed her weight loss battles over the past two decades, I found this admission, accomampanied by the before and after picture on the cover of her magazine, to be particularly admirable.

Given my own experience over the past six months or so, I found it resonated pretty profoundly.

I began this blog, or more accurately, plog (practice + blog), to provide some additional motivation to implementing and maintaining a regular practice schedule in addition to initiating a forum to connect with others plagued overwhelmed with good intentions.  At the time I began writing here over a year ago, I was close to the best shape of my life.  In the months following, my fitness continued to improve as I trained for two shorty triathlons, and when all was said in done after these events, the last being July 1st of last year, I was feeling- and looking- pretty darned good.

However, sitting here eight months later, for a variety of reasons and excuses, the story is dramatically different.  I am up two pant sizes… my practice is, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, undulating… and, between work, travel and winter, my usual training routine has never really re-gained any real traction.

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The Illusive Third Eye!

thirdeyeI will be the first to admit that I’m a newbie in the practice of meditation.  During the course of my early morning practice, in addition to dodging frantically my monkey mind, one of the techniques I try to employ is that of focusing on my ‘third eye’.

The ‘third eye’ , also referred to as the ‘inner eye’… the seat of intuition.

In yogic, or esoteric, terms the ‘third eye’ leads within towards a higher consciousness.  It is also the sixth chakra, ‘Aagya chakra‘, lying between the eyebrows.

At a recent retreat a young woman broke down near the end of the meditation, and through her tears, orgasmically exclaimed that she’d managed not only to quiet her mind like never before, but in her tranquil focus, was able actually not only to identify her ‘third eye’ but ‘see into it’ and had, in fact, witnessed colours!

Huh?!  How did I manage to miss out on that?  Those of us who had yet to get even close to quieting our minds were intensely intrigued as the whole colour thing was yet just another dimension to meditation of which we were pitifully unaware.

And, upon further discussion it was mentioned that a developed capacity to draw upon the energy, direct one’s focus upon the ‘third eye’ can be attributed to clairvoyance and precognition. Wow!  That was something I wanted to explore!

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Look and Feel Younger… Anti-age With Yoga!

Use yoga to stop the clock!

Slow the signs of aging and feel younger with a simple yoga regimen. These are huge claims, but as someone who has had, shall we say, an undulating habit of practice, there’s nothing like the feeling of a body fresh from the mat.  And the various positive effects last throughout the day.  Without a doubt a regular practice has effects that extend far beyond just the hours following….

Eight years ago, when Sharon Gothard Weisman turned 40, backaches, dark undereye circles, forgetfulness, and fatigue made her feel more like 60. In the hope of finding anti-aging relief, Weisman took a yoga class. An hour later, she felt more relaxed than she had in years. She’s been doing yoga three times a week since and says, “I have more energy, strength, and flexibility than most women half my age.”She recently ran into an old high school friend who asked, “Don’t you get older like the rest of us?”

Many women try yoga for stress reduction, but they stick with it because it makes them feel–and look–younger, says Larry Payne, PhD, a yoga director at Loyola Marymount University and coauthor of Yoga Rx. Unlike traditional exercise, yoga blends anti-aging moves that improve circulation, balance, flexibility, and strength with meditative techniques such as deep breathing. “My students call yoga a natural face-lift,” he says. “It cleanses, relaxes, and restores.”
Read more of the advantages of yoga….