Happy Valentine's Day!

Above photo via Reading My Tea Leaves. Below photo via The Daily Muse.

Are you guys celebrating love today? It's easy to get caught up in the commercial side of Valentine's Day, but it's also a fun time to share hugs and kisses with those you really care about.


Growing up, I always loved how my mom would write cards and get chocolates for me, my twin sister, and my brother. We'd come down for breakfast and they'd be set up on the kitchen table, just waiting to be opened. Last year she even sent me fresh-baked cupcakes! It was such a fun surprise getting them in the mail.


Do you guys have any special V-Day traditions? 


Here are some other fun ideas for Valentine's that I've seen around the web:

Mindy and Daniel Coleman go to the same Starbucks every Valentine's, and take a picture to remember it by.

Writing teeny tiny love notes and hiding them around the house could be great fun.

Sending a beautiful bouquet of flowers is always a classy move, whether it's for your love or even a parent or grandparent. Wouldn't it be cool to go with something way different from a dozen red roses?

It would be fun to have a secret garden date on Valentine's too :)

And of course, everybody (single, dating or married) should do a yoga class -- that's the best way to show yourself some love!

However you are (or aren't) celebrating today, I hope you have lots of fun! XO

Love is in the Air

Photos by the talented Max Wanger.

Can you feel it? All those little love flurries floating around?

Valentine's is almost here! 

Living in the Moment

Meditation isn't always the easiest. Sometimes you feel like this :)

Attentive Students of Yoga

Photo via 365 Days Yoga.

Being a yoga student means listening to the teacher and yourself. 


What have I brought to my mat today?


What does my body need?


How will this practice shape the rest of my day? (Or, looking at it a different way: how can yoga transform my future?)


I think it's important to bring these reflections and an open mind when you roll out your mat. Then you let your body do the talking.

Photo by me.

Recently a friend and fellow blogger brought it to my attention that she loves reading Alive in the Fire because it's about how to be a yoga student, not a teacher. "That's where I'm coming from, and that's what I want to hear about," she said.


I was equally flattered and inspired by this thought. I read a lot of yoga teacher blogs, and have thought about completing yoga teacher training for a long time, but it's not where I am right now. I am excited that although I am not certified to instruct you yogis, I still have a valued perspective to share.


What do you think? Do you like reading about the journey of a fellow yoga student? I'd love your thoughts on what posts resonate most :)

The Joy of Quiet

Photos via The Cool Hunter.

Let's escape to a little spot in Brazil where no one can find us. We'll learn to enjoy the quiet. No need for checking our inbox, planning our next career move, or figuring out how to accomplish more.


We'll sit in the sun, and just be.


We'll sleep when we're tired, and rewrite our definition for happiness.


Not perfection, but perfect calm.

Nothing makes me feel better — calmer, clearer and happier — than being in one place, absorbed in a book, a conversation, a piece of music. It’s actually something deeper than mere happiness: it’s joy, which the monk David Steindl-Rast describes as “that kind of happiness that doesn’t depend on what happens.”

-Pico Iyer, "The Joy of Quiet," New York Times

This post was also inspired by Daily Cup of Yoga's "Learning to Sit Alone." To learn more about how you can adopt zen habits and be happy with what you have, I recommend this blog.

Studying the Science of Yoga: Does It Really Help Improve Health?

Photo via FYeahAshtanga.

Are you interested in learning more about the science behind yoga?


I've sometimes wondered how and why certain asanas help. Does a forward fold really release stress? Can heart openers truly allow you to move through emotional pain? And what postures actually have an effect on preventing disease, increasing physical health, or helping you sleep better?

As with everything in yoga, the opinions vary. And the research is ongoing.

Photo via FYeahAshtanga.

Plus, it depends on who you ask. Bikram teachers may focus on the way compression postures increase blood flow to stimulate detoxification, whereas an Ashtanga or vinyasa teacher could spend more time in class talking about the importance of applying the mula bandha in a way that's balanced, strong, and yet relaxed. 

Or maybe you've taken a yoga class where the focus isn't even on the body; it's on the mind, and the power of meditation, or a different element of the eight limbs of yoga (outside of asana) that can transform your practice.

What do you guys think? How has yoga helped you personally? (Did you lose weight, heal from an injury, or better your sex life? Are you able to concentrate better, or exercise more?)

Photos via Urban Yoga Girl. 

There are some interesting resources out there who study the scientific effects of yoga (and you may have heard about some of this when the whole "How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body" NYT article surfaced). Here are a few links if you're interested in further reading:

• The Bandha Yoga books take a look at the anatomy behind traditional Hatha yoga, offering tips and tricks for ways to stay safe as you practice. Check out Bandha's anatomic pose viewer for an animated, 360-degree look at the human body in different postures -- pretty fascinating stuff!
• Sweat Science is a blog that takes a look at fitness myths and the science of exercise. They have posted about how yoga can reduce cellular inflammation markers, and whether it works to study yoga with conventional clinical trials.
• YogaDork released an exhaustive guide to the yoga community's response to the New York Times article on the dangers of yoga.

Photo via FYeahAshtanga.

Do you know of any other great resources for yogis interested in the science of yoga? I'd love to hear!

You're Beautiful (Trust Me!)

Photos in this post via Pinterest and Pacing the Panic Room.

Maybe no one told you yet today, so I will: you're beautiful. You have a lot going for you that's only yours, that no one else can lay claim to.

Your freckles and fingerprints can never be re-created.

Your dreams are wilder than most. 

You deserve good things. Even on the days when things go wrong and no one thanks you for being who you are, you are appreciated and loved.

You're not a model, and you don't need to be. You're beautiful the way you are. Think of how happy you could be if you gave up the ideal of perfection.

Your mind is amazing and lovely, too. Keep thinking, being your creative self, casting off those messages that bring you down, remembering who you really are.

Photo via Pacing the Panic Room.

Artsy Yoga Retreat in the Tropics

Saskia Schreiber | Retreat + Relax from Pure Souls on Vimeo.

If I could, I would sign up for this retreat today. Have you ever been on a yoga retreat to somewhere exotic? Or been on one that incorporated art or dance into the practice? Looks like fun to me!

Adventuresome

All photos by me and my family.

It's been a little while since I had a big adventure. Lately I've been dreaming about taking a trip somewhere, or doing a yoga retreat in an exotic place. Even the thought of a weekend excursion and a long road trip gets me excited.


Do you crave adventures every now and then?

Here are some of my favorite adventures from the somewhat recent past. In the summer of 2007, I went to Bonnaroo, a 4-day music & arts festival out in the middle of Tennessee, with my stepmom and stepsister. I saw a ton of incredible bands, met crazy people from all around the country, got an amazing tan, camped every night, and frolicked in the big fountain instead of showering. It was awesome!

Visiting San Francisco while I'm home to see my family in northern CA is always one of my favorite adventures. Walking the Golden Gate is one of the best parts: the view is beautiful, the air refreshing, and the sunshine feels amazing.

About a year and a half ago, my wonderful friend Chelsea came to visit for a weekend while I was home in California. We laughed, talked, and spent a day in downtown Sacramento at my favorite coffee shop and the Capitol building. There's nothing better than getting to catch up with a girlfriend and wander the city, don't you think? 


Plus, the year after, Chels invited me down to her place in the Bay Area, and we got to eat dinner at the Facebook cafeteria (her roommate from the time works there!), have frozen yogurt in Palo Alto, and roam the Stanford campus. So wonderful.

A few summers back, I rode the ferris wheel at Navy Pier in downtown Chicago then ate Chicago-style hot dogs while lounging in the grass and watching the tourists walk by. That summer, I also swam in Lake Michigan for the first time (and yes, it was freezing! So cold, it took my breath away, in fact.)

 

When I went home to meet my nephew after he was born, I got to go sailing with my dad, stepmom, brother, and best friend. On the ride down, Erin and I blasted tunes in her car that we used to sing in high school (on yearbook deadline nights or driving around town, or getting ready for prom... so many memories there!). Plus, we had rowing adventures in the dingy (one of my favorite parts about sailing ha!) and I swam with the seals until my arms and legs were so sore I could hardly go any further :)

 

Other favorite adventures not pictured here: my trip to Europe in high school and visiting Puerto Rico. What adventures have you been on, or do you hope to one day take? XO!

Wholesome Recipe: Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Photo via Bikram Yoga Vancouver.

I'm a sucker for baked goods, I'll admit. So when I found this lovely recipe from Rea at Bikram Yoga Vancouver, I got excited!

In her version of these banana chocolate chip muffins, the usual suspects for making a muffin unhealthy (milk, sugar and wheat flour)  replaced with good-for-you ingredients like sweet potatoes, honey and coconut flour. Yield is about 1 dozen. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups grated sweet potato
• 3 bananas (overripe ones work best)
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup honey, melted (or use agave instead)
• 1 capful real vanilla extract
• 1 generous tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/2 cup coconut flour
• 1/2 cup organic dark-chocolate chips (try dairy-free vegan chocolate chips; don’t go overboard on the chips or your muffins will be a chocolatey mess)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 365 F.
2. Blend sweet potato and bananas into a gloppy mush (make sure it’s good and gloppy!).
3. Add vanilla, mix. Add eggs, mix. Add honey, mix.
4. Add baking powder, baking soda, coconut flour, and mix.
5. Mix, mix, mix some more, until there are no floury, lumpy bits left.
6. Add oil, mix. Add chocolate chips, mix.
7. Lightly oil a muffin tin and spoon in the batter until each muffin cup is full but not overly so.
8. Bake for approximately 30 minutes until the muffins are golden brown and a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean.
9. Remove from oven and let muffins sit in tin for a few minutes before gently tipping them onto a plate.

Have you guys got any healthy recipes for baked goods? Or alternatives to desserts that have been made healthier? I'd love to hear!

Yoga Retreat in the Woods

Semperviva Galiano Retreat from Pure Souls on Vimeo.

I can't stop dreaming about taking a yoga retreat. I've done the one-day silent retreat thing before, but only locally.

Wouldn't this Canadian getaway be a wonderful spot for quieting the mind, rolling out your mat, and taking a hike or two?

Gratitude & Giving Back

Photo via Urban Yoga Girl.

Does yoga inspire you to get off of your mat and out into the world?

Do you volunteer on a regular basis?

Has your yoga practice helped you learn to be a more compassionate, loving person?

I'd love to hear from you. Be a part of Alive in the Fire's Karma Yoga series and share your story! Inspire others to change the world by writing a post or sharing your photos. You can reach me at aliveinthefire at gmail dot com. Namaste!

Urban Yoga

Photos by Pure Souls Photography.

Yoga is an oasis for the mind, in the midst of chaos. The city moves at lightning speed: traffic lights, pedestrians, revolving doors, the tallest buildings.


Movement does not cease.

We enter it and find some peace. A cautious grounding, beginning in the feet. Connection to the earth, the people, the moving clouds.


The breath slows. The body opens.

The heart beats and yet, is still.

Do What You Can, When You Can (A Guest Post by Yogini/Dancer Lesa Williams)

 

Yoga is as much about patience as it is about building strength and flexibility. If there's one yogini, teacher, dancer, and hard-core fitness studio owner who knows that much, it's Lesa Williams. Today on Alive in the Fire, I'm honored to bring you the story of Lesa's yoga journey. May she inspire you to stretch farther, leap higher, and smile brighter as she has inspired me :)

My Yoga Journey

by Lesa Williams

I began my Yoga journey at the age of 16. I remember it was a Saturday morning class and I completely fell asleep in class. 

It wasn’t until age 18 when I fully connected with Bikram’s yoga. One of my close friends told me about it and how it changed her life, so of course I had to check it out. We both came from dance backgrounds so we were always looking for a practice that would take us to the next level.

It was after my initial class when I knew I would have Yoga in my life forever. One of the many things I truly love about Yoga is the fact that there is no competition. 

There is no expected date to get your leg by your head. Everyone’s bodies are different and how an asana feels on you may be different on someone else and that’s okay. 

After years of dance competitions, Yoga was another way for me to exercise without having to compare, judge or scrutinize. It was a place to clear my mind and not have to think about anything but my breath. 

I went on to pursue my Yoga Teacher Certification at YogaWell under the tutelage of Kathy Lee Kappmeier. She was an amazing spirit and I channel her everytime I teach.

I received my Master’s degree in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University where my thesis was based on “College Students’ Perceptions of Yoga Participation and Its Influence on Academic Success and Concentration." I deeply believe everyone can benefit from Yoga practice.

The lesson I enjoy teaching the most to my students is the fact that you do what you can, when you can. There is no finish line. 

As long as you feel it and it feels good, you’re good. 

Simply because someone can reach their foot to their face doesn’t necessarily translate to enlightenment. It’s impressive! However, that person isn’t more or less of a Yogi/Yogini than the person who is working on simply touching their toes. 

I hope that my students leave my classroom feeling better, feeling like they had a chance to spend time on themselves so that they can return to the world to give that positive energy back to others.

Recently, I had a student (an older male who is overweight and walks with a cane) tell me that since taking my class (2 semesters now), his doctor has cut his blood pressure medication in half. That made my day! 

Photos in this post courtesy of Lesa Williams and Mika Yoga Wear.

Students need to find out for themselves that Yoga is an amazing practice. It helps with so many things: stress relief, inflexibility, obesity, high blood pressure, migraines, alignment issues, asthma, menstrual pains, Autism, ADHD, depression, arthritis, osteoporosis…I truly believe that Yoga is an amazing practice for the mind, body, and spirit and should be done by everyone daily. 

For more details on Lesa's yoga, dance and fitness, check out her studio website: MIX, in the San Diego area. Or follow Lesa on Twitter for inspiration and health tips, and "like" her studio's page on Facebook. For easy to follow tips on inspiration, health and success, check out Lesa's book, “Train Well, Dance Well, Live Well.” She's also got a library of great videos on YouTube, and she models for Mika Yoga Wear.

Thanks again, Lesa, for sharing your inspiring yoga story!

Want to tell your own yoga story? I'd love to share your thoughts and reflections from the mat with the Alive in the Fire audience. Email me at aliveinthefire at gmail dot com. Namaste.

Tales of Endurance (Photos from the Everyday)

Photos by Alexandre Kurek.

As you may remember, I'm a big fan of photographers who find a way to capture the heart of an everyday moment. I love that there is something so raw and poignant about these images from Alexandre Kurek. They are spellbinding, wouldn't you say?

PS: He blogs, too.

Afternoon Break

The way I see it, if you need a little break from a crazy afternoon, you have two options. You can do nothing for two minutes and picture yourself at the beach...

...or you can blow something up (figuratively, of course!) :) Pretty awesome, right? Enjoy being stress free, my lovely readers!

 

 All photos in this post via Flickr: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Express Yourself from Within

"It's not what you look like when you're doing what you're doing... it's what you're doing when you're doing what you're doing."

Now there's a tongue twister! But something worth considering.

What if you applied this to yourself in yoga class? If, instead of focusing on what others may notice about your practice, you focused on your yoga, you'll find your asana transformed.

You'll spend less time looking around the room, and more time in your meditation. And then you can really express yourself.

PS What a joyful video, too!

Tea Sparrow & the Happy Tea Drinker

 

Photos by me; illustration via Tea Sparrow.

All around the world, people love a good cup of tea. 

Whether you're living in Chicago...

 

New York, 

 Lake Tahoe, 

 San Francisco,

or the chilly woods of Minnesota,

... chances are, you like to warm up in the winter months with an exotic chai blend, a light green tea, or perhaps a smooth earl grey.

Well, tea drinkers of the world, I encourage you to check out Tea Sparrow, the latest and greatest online specialty tea company. The company's motto, "The world of tea to your door," says a lot about their approach to delivering high-quality tea to monthly subscribers.

I was lucky enough to sample Tea Sparrow's "mixed" box, which includes their royal blend, earl grey supreme, chai americaine, midsummer night, and red rocks flavors. I loved every one! 

Read on for my week-long diary of tea adventures...

Sunday night: My tea box arrives in the mail. I promptly begin dancing around the kitchen and sniffing each resealable bag. I heat my first pot of water and try the earl grey, which I find to be bold with the perfect amount of citrus flavor. I put my feet up, relax on the couch, and plan which tea I'll try tomorrow.

Monday evening: It's been a long day and I could use a little rejuvenation, so I steep a mug of midsummer night after dinner. This lightly-caffeinated blend of green tea and oolong perks me right up. Its subtle highlights of jasmine, rose and lotus make me feel at peace. I'm inspired to roll out my mat for a calming vinyasa flow before bed. 

Tuesday morning: After noticing how full my tea cabinet is at home, I get a genius idea: I decide to spread the word about Tea Sparrow and share my teas at the office! I promptly pack up my tea selection (except for chai -- I'll save that for me since it's my fave), and bring it along to work. I set out the tea in a central location, send an email to my coworkers, and promptly receive emails filled with exclamation points, big smiles, and thank yous. By mid-morning, there's a consensus: Tea Sparrow is a hit! 

Wednesday morning: I wear my favorite winter hat, and as soon as I see the little love birds kissing design on it, I'm promptly reminded of my new favorite tea source: Tea Sparrow. Today, I try the royal blend, an English black tea with notes of caramel and rose. I stick my little pinky finger out sipping this one -- I just feel so fancy drinking it! :)

Thursday afternoon: Today I go for the red rocks blend, a caffeine-free rooibos red tea. This is now officially my favorite so far from the Tea Sparrow box. The calming, earthy taste is perfect for this gray Chicago day. I add some organic cane sugar and half and half, and the mixture is delicious... sweet but not overly so, rich and creamy. Even better than my morning cup of coffee! I don't even mind the tiny rooibos particles that managed to escape my tea infuser; in fact, I hardly notice them at all. (Note: I recommend a super fine weave on your infuser for this tea since it has itsy bitsy particles; you could also try using the Ingenuitea pot.)

Friday afternoon: I cuddle up on the couch with a cozy cup of chai and my Kindle fire to watch hilarious YouTube videos and read Mockingjay. It's a perfect, quiet Friday evening at home.

Saturday morning: I enjoy more chai with my incredible weekend brunch. I enjoy every sip, and can't wait to refill my mug with more of this tasty tea.

Thanks, Tea Sparrow, for a beautiful week of tea sampling! To learn more about how you can sign up, visit Tea Sparrow's subscription page, or check out their FAQ page. Keep in mind they carry a lovely line of herbal teas, too.


Cheers to all you happy tea drinkers out there!

A New Series on Karma Yoga

Lately I've been thinking a lot about the power of karma yoga. Do you know what it is?

Karma yoga can be thought of as:

• Selfless action and service to others
• The path of action, and a movement toward balance and harmony in the world
• Love for others

This quote by Tagore says a lot about how we can use what we practice on the mat to translate to the world at large:

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.

Photo via Pinterest.

Do you have a story to share about how yoga has inspired you to give selflessly?

I'd love to hear! In the next few months, I'm going to be featuring the stories of individuals, studios and organizations who have been inspired by the personal experience of yoga to give back to their communities. If you'd like to take part, please email me at aliveinthefire at gmail dot com.

I can't wait to hear from you!

In the meantime, here is a video from Yoga with Chelsea about her project in India. Chelsea also writes for The Travel Yogi so be sure to check her out there.

Photo illustrations via 365 Days Yoga and LilieZenCoach.

Feet

Photos via Jaquilyn Shumate, Sarah Rhoads, and Pinterest.

I used to not like feet much, but now that I do yoga, I really appreciate them. The way those ten toes and two arches and strong heels can hold the whole body up in space. 

Feet really are marvelous, don't you think? :)