Refuge on the Mat

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I am continually amazed by the power of yoga. You can come to the mat broken, afraid, upset, or down. You watch as a simple asana practice brings a smile. The breath deepens; the heart is full.

Yoga teaches you to let go.


As Sri Dharma Mittra has said, "Bring your attention to your heart. Everything is inside."


Come to your mat ready to be changed. Namaste.

Sweaty Betty Mid-Season Sale

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Photos via Sweaty Betty.

Starting tomorrow, Sweaty Betty is launching their mid-season sale. Some of their best sellers will be featured with savings up to 50% off.
 

 Check out some of their featured sale products, which include sports bras, yoga tees, outerwear, dresses, yoga pants and more.
 

 Their sales will be expiring on 3/25/13, so get shopping, yogis!
 

Aerial Yoga

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Photos via Pinterest.

I've started taking aerial yoga classes at a local studio, and I'm in love! Using the hammock allows for deeper stretching, an amazing core workout, and the chance to strengthen arm muscles I forgot I have. :)


Plus I love the way I could go deeper with inversions, without the fear of falling. After my first class, I felt an amazing sense of new space in my spine. I felt refreshed and rejuvenated.


I'm looking forward to going back this week, and sharing some photos with you soon! Have you guys ever tried aerial yoga before? What did you think?

Happy Birthday, Sis!

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Photo via Pinterest.

Today my twin and I are celebrating our 25th birthday. I can't believe it's been a quarter of a century enjoying this life with you, sis!

I love you and I am so grateful to share this day and celebrate. Thank you for continually teaching me how to live and act with grace, how to believe in myself more deeply, and how to love unconditionally. 

 


I love you and happy 25th! Cheers :)

Training for a 5K Run

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Exciting news, readers! I never thought I'd say this, but... I'm training for a half-marathon! My siblings and I started running about three weeks ago, and it's been awesome to track my progress so far.

I'm currently running 3-4 miles five times a week and planning to work up to 13.1 miles in a 12-week period. I'll start by running the Color Me Rad 5Kin May, and hope to do a half-marathon this summer.

In my running so far, I've learned a few very important things.

  • Hydrate! If you drink enough water, you'll feel amazingly better throughout the workout.

  • Keep good posture: chin up, upper body tilted a little forward so your weight is more on the balls of your feet than your heels, and don't let your torso rotate too much from side to side.

  • If you need a boost to run a little faster, swing your arms more and your feet will follow.

  • Support your feet and invest in a good pair of shoes and socks that wick away moisture.

  • Give yourself permission to take it slow in the beginning. As you improve your cardio and breathing, you'll be amazed at your progress. In just two and a half weeks, I've noticed a huge improvement!

I couldn't be more excited to be getting in shape, tracking my progress, and experiencing the joy of beginner's mind. Running still feels new and exciting, and there's nothing better than feeling the endorphin high after a run is complete!

Do you run? Do you do other sports with your yoga? I'd love to hear!

Love from Napa, California

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I've just returned from a few days in Napa, St. Helena and Calistoga, CA. I loved seeing the beautiful countryside and enjoying the quaint atmosphere of each town. What a beautiful state I'm living in!


I sat at a coffee shop and started Stephen Cope's Yoga and the Quest for the True Self, a book I can hardly put down. I loved this passage:

Yoga speaks in a startlingly fresh way to the concerns we Western seekers bring to our psychological and spiritual journeys. Americans suffer inordinately with what therapists call problems of the self -- an inability to self-soothe; an inability to sustain a satisfying and cohesive sense of self over time; an inability to warmly love the self; an inability to maintain an ongoing sense of belonging and a deep sense of meaning and purpose in life.

Thank goodness we have yoga to help! :)



Hope you're having a beautiful weekend so far. Namaste, yogis!


Rowve Yoga Bags: Perfect for the Hot Yogi

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If you're like me, you know having the right bag for your yoga gear makes a world of difference -- especially if you're practicing in the heat. Once you leave the studio, you've got sweaty clothes to bring home and that can quickly turn into a stinky mess.

Hot yogis, I've found the perfect solution: Rowve bags! Rowve has a collection of designer bags in a variety of sizes that are perfect for carrying your sweaty stuff around. The best part? You won't end up with a smelly bag, because they're made with cotton-backed laminate which is easy to clean.


I also love that Rowve's bag collection includes stylish designs that you can utilize as purses or travel bags, too! Each piece is eco-friendly, attractive, useful, and affordable.


The Rowve website includes a variety of small, medium, and large yoga bags. I encourage all you Bikram yogis and hot vinyasa flow yogis to check out the brand!
 
Photos via Rowve.

Yoga in the Moment (Namaste)

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Sometimes yoga happens in a spur-of-the-moment kind of way. Like when you're stretching out after a run and your dog joins you for a little downward facing dog... :)

I encourage you to experience yoga as it happens spontaneously. Whether it's your body crying out for some attention after a long day, or a whimsical desire to pop into a pose while in the middle of a park... let your yoga happen!


I hope this post finds you smiling, full of life, and ready for a beautiful weekend. Happy Friday, all you yoga bums!

Illustration via a beautiful friend at Hearts Expanding.

Yoga Champs

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Photo via YogaDork.

Over the weekend, some seriously stellar yogis competed in the annual USA Yoga Asana Championship in New York City.

Photo via New York Daily News.

I'm always amazed and inspired seeing what the human body can do. I always wonder: how many hours did these yogis spend preparing for the competition? How many backbends a day did it take to get to that point?

Photo via USA Yoga Federation.

Every year there's a debate about whether yoga should be competitive. Some say that goes against the nature of yoga, but I have to say I agree with USA Yoga Federation founder Rajashree Choudhury. I think it's inspiring and encouraging to see yogis like this in the spotlight. As Rajashree wrote in a recent Huffington Post article about yoga competitions:

It is human nature to feel challenged; to be self empowered. The competition aspect of Yoga Asana comes from within; from striving to achieve one's personal best at any given moment. Carefully defined judging criteria are based on rules and structure that follows the Hatha Yoga tradition; championship judges are educated by counterparts in India on how to award marks based on a points system. Ultimately though, it comes down to the competitor's ability to master their sensory control; to execute postures to their fullest potential while holding them in stillness.

Photos via USA Yoga Federation.

You can watch a video stream of the championship here. Or check out more about USA Yoga on their Facebook page.

 
 Photo via USA Yoga Federation.

Huge props to all you amazing yogis who participated!

Your Breath in Yoga

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One thing I love about yoga: whether you're meditating in lotus pose, or fighting your way into a forearm balance, your breath guides you.


As far as I'm concerned, I'm practicing yoga while I walk down the street, as long as I'm focused on my breath moving in and out of me.

Yoga Art

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The other day a friend and I spent the afternoon drawing and painting. I enjoyed the simplicity of the moment, and a chance to create some new art.


I found myself coming back to the om sign and the lotus flower, both symbols I love.


The drawing above is of a yogi in scorpion pose, with an om.

I also wrote this little poem on one of the pages. 

over the water sound echoes, reverberating
back in muted tones, in color,
saffron and gold, peaceful
remembrance of what was once true:
beauty, silence, I raise my voz en paz.
this peaceful river flows on, through me,
breaking into the day. it is its own
promise, floating onward toward some unknown shore.


Yoga Laughs from Teeny Tiny Om

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Custom illustrations via Teeny Tiny Om.

I recently discovered an adorable illustrated yoga blog called Teeny Tiny Om. Virginie, the author, features drawings of a little stick figure yogi as he learns postures and goes about his yoga journey.

 I love the wit and humor of the site.

If you're looking for a good laugh and some true yogic wisdom, swing by Teeny Tiny Om.


 

Wisdom from Suffering

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This post is dedicated to any readers who are experiencing suffering, loss, or difficulty at this time. My heart goes out to you. 

Know that you are not alone. Namaste.


A practice that can lay the groundwork for drawing wisdom from our own sufferings is to be present to other people’s suffering. To witness. To see how many are the ways people dealing with suffering. To learn how suffering can elicit creativity or deepen hope or resilience or understanding. 

Some people recoil from others’ suffering—don’t like to visit hospitals, don’t know what to say, wish they were somewhere else, or could just send flowers. 

But a willingness to show up, even in our uncertainty about how to behave, may not only be a gift, it may help us learn to enter the places of darkness with confidence and trust, not needing to know how, or to predict outcomes, but to be fully present to whatever the moment calls for.
-Marilyn Chandler McEnryre

Patient

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Photo via MyMorningCoffee.
Patience is a long and winding road, don't you think?

Lately I've been trying to be patient with myself, but I find it's hard. I'm searching for new job opportunities and finding it takes more time than I expected. I'm also trying to giving myself space and time to heal from past hurt, and to be open to letting things happen as they are.

What helps when you need extra patience?