Beginners: Got Questions?

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Hey yogis! Hope you had a happy and restful weekend. 

I've been wondering -- do you have any burning questions about Bikram that you'd like to ask? I would like to offer insight for yogis of all levels on those postures that give you trouble, or any obstacles you encounter in the Hot Room, whether physical or mental.

Need tips on getting a deeper backbend?

Want to review the proper way to enter Rabbit pose?

Whatever your question, I'm here for you. Please leave a comment below or send an email to aliveinthefire at gmail dot com. You'll hear from me soon!

Namaste and have a lovely week.

Suddenly

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All photos by Justin Battenfield, an Oklahoma wedding photographer.

PS A little love poem for your Saturday afternoon, by one of the greatest poets (and a favorite of mine). If you can read Spanish, check out Pablo Neruda's work in his native tongue. It is beautiful and tends to take your breath away. 

Sonnet LXIX
by Pablo Neruda

Maybe nothingness is to be without your presence,
without you moving, slicing the noon
like a blue flower, without you walking
later through the fog and the cobbles,

without the light you carry in your hand,
golden, which maybe others will not see,
which maybe no one knew was growing
like the red beginnings of a rose.
In short, without your presence: without your coming
suddenly, incitingly, to know my life,
gust of a rosebush, wheat of wind:


since then I am because you are,
since then you are, I am, we are,
and through love I will be, you will be, we'll be. 

Here's to a weekend filled with sudden hugs!




Kat Doodles & The New Banner!

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All custom illustration doodles by Kat Wong of Kat  Doodles.

So I met Kat Wong of Kat Doodles back in college. We lived in the same dorm and I always marveled at how cute, shy-yet-friendly, and stylish Kat was.

Recently, I hired Kat to do an awesome custom doodle print for my nephew, Zeke. I gave it to him and my sister on Christmas, and they loved it.


He now has the adorable drawing hanging above his crib.

Now I have another super cute reminder of Kat's drawings to hang in a special place... a new blog header! Isn't her work wonderful?

I'm totally stoked for the new Standing Bow image. It's based on a photo I took in Puerto Rico (on self-timer of all things ha!).

I love how the fact that I'm not perfectly in the posture. My body still needs to come down; my chin needs to be touching my shoulder.

But the doodle perfectly conveys that sense of process that we encounter in yoga, especially in Bikram. We know that the dialogue is pushing us to reach perfect execution, but we are happy and content at our edge. Yes, we want to get our legs in standing splits and our chin to shoulder, but as long as we can lock the knee and keep reaching for the mirror, we know we have done our best.

Wherever we are in the posture is perfect. Wherever we are in the posture is exactly where we are meant to be today.

Kat also recently opened her own Etsy shop and line of hilariously cute Valentine's Day cards. Check them out!
The cheese card is my favorite.

Kat has set up shop here at her Etsy store (the long lost lemonade stand she always wanted!).

Thanks again, Kat, for the wonderful doodle. You are the best!

Nontraditional Models

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All photos via Emersonmade, a sweet clothing and accessory line.

I love encountering beautiful models who seem like real people. When I read Joanna's post over at A Cup of Jo about Emersonmade this morning, I discovered their awesome photography for the clothing line.

Isn't it fun how the models aren't just posing, but hanging out with chickens or jumping for joy in the pictures?




10 Reasons to Do Your Yoga All Winter Long

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I would love to do a headstand like this. Photo via Coffee and Yoga.

Freezing? Tired? Feeling a little SAD this winter?

Do some yoga!

Here are ten reasons to keep up your practice, especially during the coldest months:
  1. You can easily imagine yourself in a tropical paradise when it's 105 degrees and 40% humidity in the room. As my studio owner likes to say, "Perfect weather for doing yoga!"
  2. Escape from the snow and wind -- the madness of the physical winter world, and the swirly snowstorm of your brain, too. Quiet the body and the mind.
  3. It's your only chance to wear a bathing suit or shorts! Or adorable and sexy haute yogawear like K.Deer's line, if you are like me.
  4. Improve your skin's circulation and natural health by sweating it out in the Hot Room.
  5. Get flexible! Avoid stiff, sore muscles that are clenched from the cold. Relax instead.
  6. Feel the relief of a peaceful meditation once you've practiced. Stay stress free so you won't get sick!
  7. Enjoy interaction with friends, fellow yogis, and instructors at your studio. The best way to beat the blues is to talk through whatever's on your mind, and you will make real friends who you can trust if you open up. Adopt a 'namaste' state of mind.
  8. You'll breathe deeper during the day.
  9. You'll meet that new year's resolution of taking care of your body. And you'll work every muscle, tissue, organ and system you've got.
  10. If you can, you must!
Mountain meditations! Photo via Coffee and Yoga.

Real Men Do Yoga: Rich Krzyzanowski + TruHarmony Yoga in Chicago

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Next up in the Real Men Do Yoga series comes a dedicated yogi from TruHarmony in Chicago. The studio is located in River North and features heated classes based on Baron Baptiste's Vinyasa classes.

TruHarmony has been reviewed by TimeOut Chicago as offering classes that will burn more calories than other types of yoga, and Chicago Now calls it one of the best studio spaces in an office building.

Thanks to Rich for mentioning the blog at TruHarmony, I will be joining some of their talented instructors for class in the next week or so. I am stoked to meet studio owner Megan Chappell and try out a 90-minute vinyasa flow class. They've also got incredible candlelight yoga classes! Check out TruHarmony's site for more info.

Photos via this review on Chicago Now. 

Rich practices often at TruHarmony in Chicago. He is a dedicated yogi with a passion for all things yoga, and he's recently gotten more involved at the studio by working part-time to help around the space. He loves the community there, and the stellar classes that have transformed his mind and body. This is his story.

Photos courtesy of Rich Krzyzanowski, a yogi at TruHarmony studio in Chicago, Illinois.

I got involved with yoga in early August of 2010.  I practice at TruHarmony Yoga at 900 North Franklin Street in Chicago.  It is a hot vinyasa studio.  

My sister got me a mat and some private lessons for my birthday.  She and I went to the lessons and I was easily the weakest one in the room!  I was also the only male.  Needless to say, I am hooked now.   


I love to see where my body will go on any given day.  I am also really impressed with how quickly the progression from not knowing how to do anything or not being able to do anything to feeling like I can do anything has come to pass.  


I love looking at what someone is doing and being able to say, "I can do that."  I may not be able to do it right now, but I will practice some and get there when my body is ready.  

Through yoga, I have discovered meditation, too.  I am just embarking on that journey, but I am really excited about where it will go.

Namaste,
Rich

Hey Beginners, Welcome to The Rest of Your Life

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Do you feel super new? I've got thoughts for you, dear beginner. Photo via Coffee and Yoga.

There are so many new faces around the studio.


So many nervous twiddlings of thumbs in the lobby, questions, curiosities. So many new beginners to Bikram yoga at this time of year.


Newbies, welcome! 

First off, I encourage you to be proud of yourselves for stepping up your workout routine and getting your yoga on. You deserve it. Your body and your calm mind will be thanking you soon.


Secondly, I also encourage you not to hide behind your "beginner" status. In Bikram, we are all beginners. Every day we begin again. Every day we attend "Bikram's beginning yoga class" because we are all starting new.


Be proud to stand at the back of the room. Be proud to sit out the first few reps of Pranayama while you figure out what's going on. Don't be scared to be the only one not doing anything during class -- you need the time to absorb and to watch what's going on around you.


I also have three pieces of advice for you. I know a while back I shared a longer Beginner's Guide to the yoga, but in case you missed it or wanted a shorter version, here you are.


May these three things be top of mind in class -- whether it's your first session in the Torture Chamber, or you've been coming for a long time. Here's to beginning again!


Advice #1: Choose not to suffer.


Advice #2: Fidget, wipe sweat, and drink water before class. Then try to let those things go during your 90-minute meditation because, quite frankly, they are not going to save you.



Advice #3: Breathe.


So here's a little story about piece of advice #1: choose not to suffer. I experienced this the other day, but the same situation seems to be surfacing on a weekly basis, so I feel the need to share. And please, if you see scared people in the studio, reassure them that they are going to be just fine in class!


A girl was walking into the studio with her friend before Saturday's class. 


"Aren't you excited?!" her friend asked, pushing the button for the elevator. She stepped on. 


"No, I'm scared..." she said, sort of half smiling. I imagine as they rode down to the basement, her friend gave this new girl some reasons not to fear the heat, what to do if she got overwhelmed, how to pace herself in class. Although she had smiled, the girl's voice suggested some legitimate fear lurking behind her words.


Meanwhile, I was bouncing down the stairs, ecstatic for class, thinking, "What is this?! This is yoga. You are going to be OK."


Have people not heard of yoga? It's supposed to relax you. It's supposed to be enjoyable. When did Bikram yoga get this bad rep for being torture?!


(Oh wait, there is that small fact that Bikram does call it the Torture Chamber. Hmm. But I digress.)


You'll be putting that forehead on the floor in no time; trust me. Photo via Coffee and Yoga.


Still, let's be honest people. You're going to be fine. It's just freaking yoga. You're going to be fine -- as long as you breathe.


Which brings us back to piece of advice #3: breathe.


And the in-between stuff -- all that fidgeting, fixing your hair, wiping off the sweat that's actually cooling you down, and checking out your own ass in the mirror? That's just filler. Stuff you make up and bring to class because you don't know how not to yet. That's your Monkey Mind.


And if you keep coming to class, you'll lose that junk. You'll lose the negativity, the wandering thoughts, the twitches during savasana, the giving in to itching an itch or coming out of a posture early just because you feel like it.


Lately I meet a lot of beginners (or people who've never tried Bikram, but who want to get into it) who get wide-eyed at the thought of class in a hot, humid room. They get scared.


I'm not flexible, they tell me. I've never done yoga. I'll pass out, won't I? I'm not skinny enough, or strong enough, or tall enough, or crazy enough, to do yoga. Or to do this type of crazy yoga.


Let me tell you something: you are. You can do that posture. You can get through class. You can even have fun doing it, if you decide to!


Here we are, back again. Advice #1: Choose not to suffer.


Let's change this mindset of bringing fear to class and these mantras about all of the things we "can't" do. Let's encourage beginner's with open-mindedness and patience, and encourage them to be patience with themselves, too.

During crowded classes, be grateful for beginners. Photo via Lululemon's Flickr.

The yoga takes time. The yoga never ends. 


Don't be in a rush to meet certain expectations of yourself. Instead, be glad that you found the yoga.


I highly suggest, beginners, that you be more like my friend who is completing a 60-day challenge right off the bat, never having done the yoga before. Be more like her than the wide-eyed girl who wasn't sure about her first class. Just go for it! 


Enjoy yourself. Laugh at how ridiculous Bikram can be sometimes. Laugh at the inanity of the dialogue, at your silly neighbors, at yourself as you fall out of a posture and get right back in.


Sit down when you get overwhelmed.


And come back tomorrow.


You might be scared, you might be crazy, but whoever you are you could really use some of this yoga. And let me tell you, only you can save yourself in the heat. Not the teacher. Not your friend who told you to come try Bikram. Not your neighbor. Not your mom, or your mom's cat, or whoever.


Just you.


So go ahead. Take my advice. Choose not to suffer, and get ready for the rest of your happy yogi life.


Some yogis who know how to enjoy the process! Photo via  Lululemon's Flickr.

Everywhere Yoga

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Bring your yoga anywhere. Photo via FYeahYoga.

I love that you can bring your yoga anywhere. What we learn on the mat can be used at any moment: at a friend's birthday party, when you're upset with someone you love, when you've stubbed your toe or missed the bus and need to deal.


Especially in Bikram, you learn this sort of 'everywhere yoga.'


Standing face-to-face in that heat, you've got to decide not to suffer, or chances are, you will. You must ignore the rest of the room -- the day, the thoughts, the world -- and enter your meditation.


Lately I've been so grateful that since I returned from the holidays, it feels like my yoga is back. Not only while I'm practicing (and I have had two of the most electric, ecstatic classes I've ever experienced this week), but also during the small moments of my day, I am calm, at peace, in the moment.


I am patient, even during the annoying moments or when I encounter frustrations or sadness.


I am my yogi self again, finally! Body, mind, and spirit have aligned, and it feels beyond wonderful. Have you experienced this sort of interconnected joy? Once you have, losing it can be really hard. And during our travels and my hiatus from the home studio, I felt as though I had lost that self-loving, flexible, upbeat yogi me.


Well, welcome back, yogi me!


You are your meditation, not the world around you. Photo via FYeahYoga.

Today at the studio I practiced in a class of 60 people. 60 yogis! We were sardines, piled in the room. I was in the first row, on the hot side. I was a puddle before pranayama even got going! At one point, I literally felt as though I had melted. I was a wet noodle.


It was awesome.


I was definitely the flower petal blooming! I loved the warm up series, and the way my body just moved to the words, bending and opening and relaxing into each posture. There was no resistance; I could not resist any posture because I had no energy to overcome the intense heat. (Before class, I checked the little thermometer up on the teacher's podium. It read 107! And that's before everyone was in the room, working up a sweat.) Incredible. It's amazing to me what a difference those two to three degrees make!


It was a beautiful class. Such an intense mixture of concentration from the new students, as they strained their ears to listen to the words and do the postures correctly, and joy and strength from the advanced students, as though their energy and expertise were pulling the rest of the bodies through when they thought it was time to give up.


We had a fair amount of drama in class, too. During the warm up, a new guy decided he had to leave the room. He was muttering "I'll be fine, I'll be fine" as he marched out of class, our teacher desperately asking "Where are you going?!" in between sets. He did come back, which was impressive. And the yogi by the door who didn't have enough room for Triangle finally figured out that it would help to scoot up toward the mirror.


We got through. We made it. And I was actually laughing the whole way through, marveling at what an interesting psychology experiment a yoga room really can be sometimes.


The lady next to me and I were chuckling at a few points along the way, too. Right before Full Locust she put her whole arm on my arm, locking us together as if we were one strong yogini, a force to be reckoned with.


We both smiled, dripping sweat in each other's space. And then we rocked the posture.


This was truly the bliss of Bikram: to be so close to your fellow yogis, so overwhelmingly given in to the situation, so intensely and intently present in the room. Unable to resist, and not wanting to.


To be able to smile through the second set of an exhausting posture while most other yogis are cringing and letting themselves to suffer instead of relax.


To, quite simply, be there.


To be.


I felt exhilarated. I'm going back as soon as I can.


Enjoy your yoga in the everyday. Photo via FYeahYoga.

Age Old Tree

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Photo and inspiration for the poem from I Am An Age Old Tree.


A poem for your Friday afternoon. Just because :)


Age Old Tree


An age old tree stands in the desert,
is greeted by the blankness


of stars. What echoes, what remains,
what the branches say to each other.


They say nothing.
All are branches standing upward.


What seems to continue 
despite darkness, despite cold,


dampness, dusk, dust.
Perhaps we are all branches,


the standing upward our only way
of calling out into what we don't know,


can't remember, shouldn't have seen
as children. For beyond the throes of pain


lies a calm we can find
only with the heart open.


Once you have a heart,
you can remember where you are going.


An age old tree stands in the desert,
where snow begins to fall.

Winter Yoga, Wing Night & The Greatest Feeling

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A crowded class reminds you to find your private practice. Photo via Coffee and Yoga.


Class was super crowded last night at the studio. Lots of beginners around. Looks like a lot of New Year's resolutions have been set!


The mats were lined up in neat rows, lots of yogis packed into the room. All the commotion and bustle really pumped me up. I warmed up with big smiles, and energy coursing through me. I love a good crowded class.



Breathe together, move together. That's the yoga. Photo via Lululemon's Flickr photostream.


What's funny is I arrived there with my good friend Lindsay, who's a Bikram teacher and massage therapist at the studio, and we both entered the Hot Room separately to set up our mats. Little did I know, I had plopped my stuff down right next to hers!

The close quarters made for an inspiring class. Linds is a super yogi and having her next to me during the postures gave me the motivation to push a little harder, focus a little stronger, and let go of the crazy energy from the beginners in the room.

That's Lindsay at her Teacher Training in Acapulco. She is an incredible yogi!

Being close to other yogis in the room also brought my thoughts to Teacher Training. I seriously can't wait to be there!


On some days it feels like I've got a lot of preparing to do before I go. I want to have at least the first four  postures down before Training, plus I could really use a challenge or two before I kill myself for 90 minutes... twice a day, for three months! Ha.


On other days, though, I feel ready to pack up a little suitcase and get my ass to the Big Tent right away. I've got my wardrobe of tiny shorts and sports bras, my set of yoga mats, my Bengal tiger strength and English Bulldog determination. I've got my open mind and willingness to let go. I'm ready, right?


And especially after crowded classes like last night's, I just can't help but imagine the energy in the room with Bikram up front and a bunch of advanced, eager trainees lining the floor from wall to wall. It has to be electric!



Standing Bow next to Standing Bow. Gotta love a crowded class! Photo via Lululemon's Flickr photostream.

Regardless of when I get to Training, I am very grateful to know that it is a goal I will turn to reality. It's not a "new year's resolution." It's a life goal. It will happen... "eventually or in the future." (And for those who are curious, it's looking like Fall 2011 is going to be my time, but nothing is set yet. I will keep you posted for sure!)


I can't wait to get back to class -- both at Bikram Yoga Evanston and other studios in the area. One of my goals this year is to expand my practice into new forms. I am hoping to buy a few DVDs for at-home practice (to meet my budget), as well as review some local studios on the blog (and hopefully score a few free classes here and there). There are plenty of cheap or free community classes as well!


The greatest feeling of all is to be surrounded by your fellow yogis as you work through class.


The surrender, the energy, the love in the room: it's overwhelming and wonderful. All at once. All together. All you need: your yoga!

Which Reminds Me

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Oh, if I could I would attend this awesome seminar on photography at Alt Summit.

My recent post on kiddos in the blogosphere reminded me of an awesome conference coming up this month in Salt Lake City, UT that I wish I could attend.

Every time I look over at the Alt Summit website, I drool a little bit. All of the seminars look so fascinating! What a fun way to learn new creative processes and connect with other bloggers.

Alt says about themselves: "Altitude Design Summit is the next cool thing. A conference for design-minded folks — bloggers, lifestyle sites and the companies that want to connect with them."

Are any of you lovely readers planning to attend?

If you are, you need to get to Rachel Devine and Ryan Marshall's seminar on photography (called "Getting It Right in Your Camera"), held on Thursday, January 20. Looks fantastic!

The details on Getting it Right in Your Camera (January 20, 10:30-11:30 am):
This photography panel promises brainy discussions, advice and sweet reminders (remove that lens cap, please!). Topics to be covered: Lens selection, raw vs. jpeg, sharpening your focus, white balance, using external light, pushing your ISO, being bold with your flash, aperture, shallow depth of field, and getting the most from your camera. Panelists:Ryan Marshall, Rachel Devine.
Self-portrait by Ryan Marshall of Pacing the Panic Room.

Ryan Marshall is the genius behind Pacing the Panic Room, an awesome blog about raising a family, being a dad, and documenting pregnancy. I recently posted about him here.

 
The Marshall family is a beautiful one. Meet Cole, the Littlest Buddy, and Tessa Tangerine.

Rachel Devine is a talented photographer who runs her own business and blogs about it and her three cute kids. Talk about a lady who can balance it all! She's got a super creative eye for those moments you never want to forget, like when the kids are bouncing around on the couch, looking cute in their Christmas Eve pajamas.


Self-portrait by Rachel Devine.
Photo by Rachel Devine.

You can also connect with Alt on Facebook and Twitter. Keep me posted if you attend the conference, lucky ones!

Kiddos in the Blogosphere

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Photo by the talented Rachel Devine.

Are you a new mama looking for inspiration to decorate your babe's nursery? Or a dad desperately seeking to read about the adventures of a guy who's honest about parenting and how tough it can be?


Next up in the Beyond Childhood series, I bring you a roundup of great blogs for the family-oriented. Enjoy!


 Photos by Joanna Goddard of A Cup Of Jo.


A Cup of Jo: Joanna Goddard's posts about her baby Toby and all things maternity are super inspiring and authentic, plus she posts all sorts of wonderfulness on fashion, beauty and travel.

 Photos by Joanna Goddard of A Cup Of Jo.

Kelle Hampton: a mom with a heart of gold, Kelle's posts are heartfelt and include lovely photos. I recommend reading the birth story she wrote about her daughter Nella, who has Down's Syndrome. (It brought a tear to my eye.) And oh man, look at this earthy belly!

Photos by Kelle Hampton. 





Pacing the Panic Room: Ryan's one of the few honest blog dads I know who never ceases to amaze me with his profound words and beautiful photos. He documents the life of his charming wife, Cole, and their two little ones, Tessa Tangerine and the Littlest Buddy. Pacing the Panic Room featured an amazing series called Do Fun Stuff to benefit SMS by selling a fantastic benefit album. Buy it for your kiddos, and dance together! And if you missed Cole's pregnancy series or the Walk to 40 Weeks, get to it. Those photos are beyond rad.


 Photos by Ryan at Pacing the Panic Room.
 Photo illustrations by Ryan at Pacing the Panic Room.

Rummey Bears: Meet Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Baby Bear, some of the cutest people on the planet. Enjoy reading about their beautiful life in Australia, and all the fun design, photo, surfing, and family adventuring they do together. PS: Baby Bear will melt your heart. She is one of the cutest babes out there! Plus, the Rummeys had a very lovely DIY wedding you should check out.


Photos by Anna Rummey of Rummey Bears. 






Lena Corwin: Lena runs the lovely Wee Textile, a shop you should definitely check out if you love handcrafted baby wear. She carries the cutest sweaters you'll ever find! On the blog, she documents preparing for her babe and all the pretty things she's making for him. Plus, she has an awesome eye for design and one of the most rad closets around.


Photos by Lena Corwin of Wee Textile. 






Mila's Daydreams: Last but certainly not least, a wonderfully imaginative blog that will make you laugh and swoon over a mom's lovely dreamscapes she creates for her babe while she naps. That Christmas one had me smiling at first sight! Adele is going to be releasing a book with all of the lovely photos of Mila's dreams soon. Keep an eye on her blog for the info and in the meantime, watch the breathtaking video Mom and Dad made together about their beautiful  little girl.


Photos by Adele Enersen of Milas Daydreams. 




Healthy Lifestyles Workshop from Heaven Meets Earth Yoga Studio in Evanston

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Ashley, a friend of mine and an amazing yoga teacher at Heaven Meets Earth, is teaching a workshop on healthy lifestyles, weight loss, and mindful exercise and eating.


If you're in Evanston or the Chicago area, consider attending!



Healthy Yoga Body
with Ashley Moran
6 Week Monday night series 
Mondays 7:30-9pm, January 3-February 7.
Starts tonight!

Photo via Heaven Meets Earth.

 Please feel free to share with friends you know who are always dieting or who could use a boost in their body image and self-confidence.


A few details:

Whether you want to lose weight, detoxify your body, or learn more about the ancient art and science of Ayurveda, this class is for you!


Healthy Yoga Body is a mindful approach to weight loss through yoga and the Ayurvedic lifestyle.



Photo via Heaven Meets Earth.

We will explore the basics of Ayurveda, the doshas (body types), and identify appropriate foods and exercises for your type. You will learn how to create a personalized home yoga practice and a community of support. Discover how mindfulness can transform your relationship with food.

Each class will include a lecture, yoga practice, and meditation. Students will leave class every week with amazing resources --delicious, healthy recipes and short mindfulness exercises to support your efforts during the week.

Cost: $120 for six-week series. Beginners welcome! No yoga experience necessary.

Materials: This class will reference texts “Yoga Body Diet” by Kristen Schultz Dollard and John Douillard and “Eating Mindfully” by Susan Albers, psy.d. These books are fantastic resources for your body/mind transformation!

Ashley Moran, CYT, was inspired to create Healthy Yoga Body community after taking a Yoga and Ayurveda workshop with John Douillard. 


Register at Heaven Meets Earth or call 847-475-1500.


Photo via Yoga Journal of a Not Very Calm Character.

The Kiddos

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All photos by Jose Villa.

Photographer Jose Villa has a way of capturing the most heartfelt moments, don't you think?

I love when kids are silly, zany and beautiful.

Welcome to the new series:

Beyond Childhood
(How To Love Your Kiddos Better)




More inspiring posts to come soon. And if you know of some awesome toys I should be posting about, or sweet kid snack recipes, please write in!

Ready for the Impossible?

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Photo via Pennyweight.

I have a feeling 2011 is going to be an incredible year. Are you ready for it?

I'm ready for quiet moments, full skies and elaborate dreams. I plan to do plenty of yoga, healthy cooking, and reading for fun.

And I want healthy relationships to be at the top of the list.

Photo via Andrew + Carissa.
Photo via Atlantic Tree Fox.

Now is one of those times of year I feel pretty reflective. I find myself reminiscing about my favorite memories -- which means reliving the Big Day over and over. Anyone else wish they could enjoy their wedding day all over again just because it was so wonderful?

Before we left California, I was also helping my mom pack up a few boxes and get rid of some of my old stuff. I spent a few hours going through old papers -- birthday cards, love notes from my lunchboxes as a kid, letters from penpals, journal entries, high school essays. I found myself feeling strangely sentimental, and sad to leave my family. The cards from both of my late grandmothers almost brought a tear, and more so they have inspired new poetry.

Photo via A Desert Fete. 
Photo via Oh Happy Day!

Getting back to our wonderful little apartment has also inspired me. I endured a particularly long and ridiculous journey home (delays at the airport, delays for the bags, delays for the cab) so I was pretty happy once I made it to bed last night.

I spent the whole day today cleaning, organizing, and getting rid of old stuff. The perfect New Year's purge!

It felt great to free up some space and tidy up. I still have a bit to do -- and I have big plans for my own new planning schemes to keep things easy to find! 

Photo via David and Sarah.
Photo via Stephen Beadles Photography.

At the start of January, it's easy to look forward and think how lovely and open the new year is. It's just as easy to look back at the year behind us and get overwhelmed by how much we had to do to survive it.

Are you busy looking forward, or looking back?

At this very moment, I am equally at peace with my goals for the new year and my accomplishments from the past year. I feel prepared to do better, to grow, to let go. I'm as ready for the impossible as I can be.

Photo by Jose Villa.

A final quick note: I'll be featuring a new series here on Alive in the Fire very soon! It's called:

Beyond Childhood (How to Love Your Kiddos Better) 

Get excited; you're going to be seeing a lot of adorable baby pictures, parenting advice, thoughts for expectant moms-to-be, reviews of green products, and ways to make family your top priority in 2011! I hope you'll follow along and consider contributing your comments and ideas.

If you know of a mom who might want to share her story, please have her email me here: aliveinthefire at gmail dot com.

I'd also love to hear from you with ideas about:
  • Family-focused companies
  • Eco-friendly and green products for babies
  • How to put family first
  • Raising kids with love, hope and spirit
  • Eating well for you and your family
Thanks and namaste!

Morning, Yogis

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Photo via Mika Yoga Wear on Facebook.

Hello morning yogis! Are you rolling out your mats for your first class of 2011? Me too. I'm really excited to get a 90-minute torture session in before we pack up and head out to Chicago today.


I need the heat!


I hope you're enjoying the day and sticking to your practice. There is nothing better!


Here's to making 2011 a year for yoga.