Badass Yoga Teachers: 5 Yoga Books You May Not Have Read in Your Yoga Teacher Training

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Welcome to a new series on Alive in the Fire dedicated to Badass Yoga Teachers!

Today I'm sharing five of my favorite books that have influenced my path as a yoga teacher. 

These books offer wonderful tools for:
  • building your yoga career
  • understanding the ethical principles of yoga
  • exploring who you are and what motivates you to teach
  • overcoming fear
  • forming new habits

Whether you're an experienced yoga teacher, new to teaching, or thinking about becoming a teacher, these are wonderful books to explore. May they encourage you on your path as you evolve and grow :)

The Art and Business of Teaching Yoga by Amy Ippoliti and Taro Smith

'Wow.' That's what I kept saying to myself as I read this book. And also, 'This book should be required reading in any yoga teacher training!'

Amy Ippoliti and Taro Smith offer an incredible wealth of knowledge about yoga, teaching, and business in this book. They are successful teachers and created 90 Monkeys, an online school that is focused on helping yoga professionals develop their careers.

Early in the book, the authors describe the 'vicious cycle of yoga teaching:'
  • Run all over town teaching eighteen or more classes a week to make ends meet.
  • Oops, no time for your own practice! No time to plan classes!
  • Teach subpar class because of lack of practice, inspiration, or groundedness.
  • Get home, have no time for reflection, fun, recreation, or family.
  • Get up the next day with even less inspiration, and teach to a dwindling number of students.
  • Make insufficient money to pay bills, afford necessary continuing education, or have much-needed free time.
  • Repeat.
When I read these statements, I couldn't help but laugh (and cry inside, a little) realizing how true these felt, as I've experienced some of them and witnessed friends and fellow teachers struggling with the same cycle.

I love that this book addresses many relevant topics and gives real-world advice for how to overcome the obstacles that many yoga teachers face.

Here are some of the subjects covered in the book:
  • understanding your strengths (and potential weaknesses) as a teacher
  • developing a mission statement to help focus and hone your teaching
  • building and marketing your personal yoga business
  • managing your business finances
  • how to avoid burnout
  • how to use social media to promote your teaching
  • self-care
  • lighting up the world
Highly recommend this book! If you're a stressed out yoga teacher, read this. If you want to understand some of the practical realities of what it means to teach full-time or whether you should quit your day job to start teaching, read this. If you're curious about how to create a fulfilling career as a yoga teacher, read this. XO

May Cause Miracles by Gabrielle Bernstein

This book changed my life when I first read it in 2014; it inspired me to dedicate the following year to being a fearless 2015, and also gave me the energy and willingness to leave my 9-to-5 job to teach yoga and freelance.

Here I am halfway through 2016 experiencing some big shifts again, and I'm re-reading this book as a way to reconnect with many of its relevant themes: releasing fear, increasing mindfulness, cultivating self-acceptance and radical self-love. I have a feeling I'll keep coming back to this book over and over again, because doing this work truly does cultivate subtle shifts which lead to miraculous change.

Gabrielle Bernstein's work speaks to my heart, and her writing is encouraging, thoughtful, real, and uplifting. She has a way of helping me look at things I don't really want to look at, of facing my fears, and I think that has been most powerful alongside my yoga teaching.

I encourage yoga teachers to try this book because I believe self-healing is needed every step of the way: when we make the courageous decision to become a yoga teacher, as we are immersed in the rigors of a 200 hour training (or 300, 500, 800 hour!), as we step into the studio to teach our first, or hundredth class, as we grow and evolve over time, contributing to our yoga communities.

Everything that goes along with teaching yoga will bring up emotion, ego, insecurities, and doubts-- whether you're being vulnerable with students, being vulnerable and real with yourself, receiving feedback from fellow teachers or studio owners, questioning why you teach, fine-tuning your classes, or seeing your numbers dwindle or skyrocket.

This book offers simple tools to help you understand yourself along the way, to let go of fear, to cultivate abundance, and to believe, even just a little bit, in how much of a miracle you are.

As Gabrielle says, "Welcome to your new life!"

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

The Four Agreements is a beautiful, artful book that explores self-limiting beliefs. Ruiz draws on ancient Toltec wisdom, outlining a powerful code of conduct that has the potential to free us from suffering and experience a life of happiness and love.

I believe these four principles offer me powerful wisdom in my daily life as well as my yoga teaching.
  • Be impeccable with your word.
  • Don't take anything personally.
  • Don't make assumptions.
  • Always do your best.
A beautiful book, not to be missed!


Zen Habits by Leo Babauta

Leo's blog Zen Habits is my absolute favorite blog, so of course when I heard that he was publishing a book based on the topics he often writes about, I was stoked! This book offers an incredible method for transforming any area of your life, and for dealing with any life changes, loss, illness, frustrations with others, and unhappiness with ourselves.

In the book, Leo outlines simple, beautiful ways to:
  • become more mindful
  • embrace change
  • create space and deal with things as they come up
  • release attachment
  • focus on intentions
  • foster appreciation and gratitude
All very yogic topics!

I'd suggest this book to anyone, yoga teacher or not, and especially if you're a teacher and looking to:
  • create a consistent home practice even while you teach a full load of classes
  • establish healthy boundaries as you build relationships with your students and studio managers
  • feel more peaceful in your own life
  • embrace discomfort
Zen Habits is one of my all-time favorite books.


The Yamas and Niyamas by Deborah Adele

I read this book during my 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training and found it to be a wonderful, thorough guide to the yamas and niyamas, yoga's ten ethical guidelines.

I especially love Deborah's writing prompts at the end of each chapter, which encourage the reader to do self-study and learn to apply these ideas to real life.

I love this book and have often read from it to my students at the end of class. I believe it is important for all yoga teachers to explore and develop their own personal understandings of the yamas and niyamas:
  • ahimsa (nonviolence)
  • satya (truthfulness)
  • asteya (nonstealing)
  • brahmacharya (nonexcess)
  • aparigraha (nonposessiveness)
  • saucha (purity)
  • santosha (contentment)
  • tapas (self-discipline)
  • svadhyaya (self-study)
  • ishvara pranidhana (surrender)
Here's one of my favorite passages from the introduction of the book:

"We all want to live well. Let's face it, at the end of the day, it's not how much you have or how much you have accomplished that counts. What matters is how well you have participated in your own life, both the ordinary routines and the extraordinary surprises. It's how you feel inside when you lay your head on the pillow."

This book is a wonderful tool for cultivating inner peace and developing a strong sense of integrity, both as a yoga teacher and a human being.


Well, yoga teachers and soon-to-be teachers, I hope these books offer you some incredible insight into your own lives, both on and off the yoga mat! XO

PS, I'd love to hear: what are some of your favorite yoga books?

Breakthrough

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What if I actually let myself believe that everything is OK, and is going to continue to be OK? 

 What if I focused on love instead of fear? 

 On living instead of messing up? 

What if, instead of replaying my stressful memories and nightmares in my mind, instead of re-hashing old conversations and wishing I had said something differently, instead of focusing on my flaws, I found gratitude in the present moment? 

 What if I gave myself permission to be imperfect? 

 What if I gave myself permission to fail, and still be 'good' and 'enough' and 'lovable' and 'worthy?' 

 What then?

Isn't it amazing when you have days that shift your perspective? 

 When, after feeling low and feeling desperate, you feel hopeful?

 Today felt like one of those days for me. 

 And sure as hell I'm going to keep riding that wave, staying present. 

Content. 

 Loved.

 Alive.

 Photos in this post by Felipe Silva of Uprise Collective.

Yoga Poses for Expressing Joy

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Step 1: Go put on the song "Happy" by Pharrell Williams. Sing along and dance a little.

Step 2: Notice, does this resonate with you right now?

Step 3: Try this yoga sequence :)

These poses are great for days when you're feeling alive, excited and joyful.

Or maybe you're having a sh*t day and want to turn things around? Yeah, this yoga sequence can work well for that too ;)


Warm up your body with 3 rounds of sun salutations. Move as quickly or as slowly as you like, and begin concentrating on linking your movement with your breath. Steady, rhythmic movements to build some heat in the body.

Take tree pose. Shift your weight onto one foot and bring the other up to your inner thigh, or calf. Reach your arms overhead. Breathe. Notice stability in the body, and length in the spine.

Between sides, feel free to shake out your hands and feet, or do a little dancing!


Downward facing dog, five to eight breaths.

Triangle pose on each side, five to eight breaths. Widen through the chest. Think long lines of energy here, and the energy of the earth being brought upward through the arms. Beautiful!

Keep breathing.

Stand in Tadasana, mountain pose, for a few moments. Then come into extended hand-to-big toe pose (Utthita Hasta Padangustasana). 

Take your time finding the balance here: first bring your knee into your chest. Set your gaze (dristi) on a fixed point in front of you, preferably at eye level or a little higher. If you can take your big toe in your two peace fingers (thumb and index), do so. Then slowly extend your leg straight and bring it out to a diagonal.

Always the option here to just keep your knee into your chest and work on balancing on one foot. You can also play with twisting toward the leg that's into your chest. Use your core strength and focused determination to support you as you balance.

Repeat on the other side for the same length of time. Again, shaking out your hands and feet or dancing between the two sides is encouraged! 

Take downward dog for 8-10 breaths, or rest in child's pose.

Next step one foot forward and come into Warrior II. On your inhale, reach up to Reverse Warrior pose. Stay grounded and strong in the legs, as your arm floats up toward the sky.

Breathe!

Feel your chest open, side body expands, and invite a smile.

Do both sides and feel free to rest in downdog between sides.

If you want a little extra movement, feel free to add some cat / cow stretching here too.


Next, stand at the front of your mat in Mountain pose. Transition to Dancer pose (Natarajasana). Shift the weight into the right foot, bend your left knee and reach for the inside of the left ankle. Bring your knees together, stand up tall, and take a moment to steady your balance.

Reach your right arm up toward the ceiling.

Find your dristi. Take a big breath in, and then begin to kick your left foot back behind you. Reach forward as you kick back, keeping the shoulders and hips squared toward the front of your mat. Deep breaths here.

Keep a strong standing leg, engage your abdominal muscles, and keep your chest lifted. Let this backbend be an expression of your joy!


Wind down your practice with some seated stretching, maybe a gentle bridge pose, suppta baddha konasana, and some twists. And then, the sweet surrender of Shavasana.


Here's a summary of the YOGA FOR JOY practice:
  • 3 sun salutations to warm up
  • Tree pose (option to shake it and dance to "Happy" between sides!)
  • Downdog
  • Triangle pose on each side
  • Mountain pose
  • Extended big-toe-pose (balance)
  • Downdog
  • Reverse Warrior on each side
  • Cat/cow release
  • Dancer pose (balance)
  • Seated stretching
  • Twists
  • Shavasana 

May your yoga practice be an act of kindness toward your body, and a key to finding healing and peace. Namaste.

Photos in this post by Jobi Otso (1, 2, 5), Felipe Silva of The Uprise Collective (3), Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography (4, 6, 7). Graphic illustration created using Canva.

Yoga and Freedom

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Today, my yoga practice is about freedom.

 Freedom to move my body in ways that feel good, freedom to be exactly as I am, freedom to love with an open heart.

How will you celebrate freedom today?

PS A beautiful quote from BKS Iyengar:

 "You do not need to seek freedom in a different land, for it exists with your own body, heart, mind, and soul."

 Photos in this post by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.

Have a Fun 4th of July Weekend!

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Happy Fourth of July weekend, yogis! What are you all up to? Any fun plans to celebrate?

I'm looking forward to relaxing, eating watermelon, cooking yummy brunches and dinners, and maybe even watching fireworks from on the water in our kayaks! :)



Here are some links from around the web:

Fun red, white and blue recipes I'd love to try: blueberry caprese salad, sparkling sangria, red velvet cupcakes, and cheesecake-stuffed strawberries.

Hilarious 4th of July t-shirts.

6 ways to help your pet survive the fireworks on fourth of July.

My new favorite post about social media by Rachel Brathen, @yoga_girl: #wtf

If you're a young yoga teacher and have ever thought, "I'm not experienced enough to teach," check out this Elephant Journal piece on svadhyaya, and the importance of going inward. Great read.

Unique BBQ ideas for summer.

Is it iced coffee weather where you are yet?


Also, in case you missed them, some of this week's posts on Alive in the Fire:
Hope your weekend is filled with fun shenanigans and surprises! Much love.

Yoga is a Practice

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Here are a few things that I know, in this moment.

 Yoga is a practice.

 And my practice is in a constant state of flux, just like me.

 Postures will come and go.

 Inversions? Fancy transitions? They do not define me.

 Today I practiced yoga for the first time in a week, and my body felt stiff and tight. My joints ached. I tried for binds in Goddess pose and Extended Side Angle, and felt as though I was in a different body than my own.

 I felt uncomfortable. I kept going. And, in Shavasana, I felt relieved and a little proud of myself for sticking through the discomfort.

I've heard other teachers and students talk about 'taking a break' from their practice. It has been years since I've done that with mine, but in the last few months there have been moments when I'd rather do anything than yoga.

 I know I've spent a lot of time comparing myself to other yogis, teachers and students, deciding who has a 'stronger' practice, who knows more, who is capable, who is worthy.

 I'd love to let all of that go.

 I journaled about it today, actually. How I'm tired of letting my practice define me, rather than support me.

 I don't live to do yoga; I do yoga in order to live a more balanced, happy, peaceful life.

 Let that be my mantra. Let the comparisons and judgments fall away.

 I want to be remembered as a yogi who loved wholeheartedly.

 I want to be remembered as someone who cared, who took care of herself with grace and kindness, and who refused to let fear get the best of her. If handstand is in that picture, OK. If not, OK.

 How do you practice ahimsa in your yoga routine? How do you let go of a fear of failure, of not being good enough?

 Namaste, loves.

Staying Open Hearted

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Today, a quote from the illuminating The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer:

 "Just keep opening and not closing. Wait until you see what happens to you. You can even affect the health of your body with your energy flow. When you start to feel the tendency of an illness coming on, you just relax and open. When you open, you bring more energy into the system, and it can heal.

Energy can heal, and that's why love can heal.

 As you explore your inner energy, a whole world of discovery opens up to you.

 The most important thing in life is your inner energy. 

 If you're always tired and never enthused, then life is no fun. 

 But if you're always inspired and filled with energy, then every minute of every day is an exciting experience.

Learn to work with these things. Through meditation, through awareness and willful efforts, you can learn to keep your centers open.

 You do this by just relaxing and releasing.

 You do this by not buying into the concept that there is anything worth closing over. 

 Remember, if you love life, nothing is worth closing over.

 Nothing, ever, is worth closing your heart over."

Photos by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.

Yoga Poses for When You're Sad

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Do you keep practicing yoga, even on days when you are sad?

I once heard a friend say that yoga is not always a practice for feeling better, yet it is a practice used for feeling more.

I love this thought, and I love that my yoga practice supports me even on days when I am gloomy, upset, grieving a loss, or feeling depressed.

Yoga can help us feel more, so that we can release negative feelings.

On days when you are feeling sad, or ready to release sadness, try these yoga postures to help you connect with the place you're in. You may just find that after your practice, you feel a little lighter. And if after practicing you still feel some intense feelings, please still give yourself permission to be exactly as you are; sometimes we need to feel heaviness before we can feel lightness again.


Begin in seated meditation.

Find stillness in a comfortable position.

Close your eyes and tune inward.

What's going on for you in this moment? Though it may be uncomfortable or a little unsettling, see if you can invite the feeling of sadness. Notice where it is present for you in your body. Maybe your hands or feet? The center of your chest? Your hips?

Without trying to change anything, simply notice. Bring your attention to your body.


If you're craving some movement, consider seated cat/cow for a few minutes, cat/cow from hands and knees, or a few sun salutations.

Then, come into pigeon pose. From downward facing dog, draw your right knee forward toward your right wrist. Allow your hips to sink down. Feel free to slide a block or pillow under your right hip, crawl your hands forward, coming down onto your elbows or letting your forehead rest on the ground.

Stay here for 1-5 minutes on each side. Be sure to keep breathing!

Again in this pose, invite feeling. If there are tears, allow them to process. Remind yourself, you are exactly where you need to be. Let your body be heavy, and your breath deep.

From pigeon, do a few rounds of low lunges (anjaneyasana) on each side. You can have your arms up overhead, lifting through the chest, or bring your arms down by your sides. You can even take a lizard variation, both hands inside the front foot.

Move around a bit and stretch your hips in a way that feels right.

Take a few audible exhales through your mouth. Release.

Move through downward facing dog on your way into Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II) pose. Take up a lot of space in this pose.

Notice the wide stance of your feet, and the expansive reach of your arms. Get tall in your spine and gaze forward over your front middle finger. Set your gaze.

Then, allow the pose to intensify a little. Breathe more. Feel the large muscles in your legs start to fire. Engage the muscles around your core, your center, and picture energy lifting up through the spine -- tailbone all the way to the crown of the head.

Tune into your power center. Perhaps today, even with the feeling of sadness, you can also feel the energy of strength. Notice the play between these two energies, and offer what you can in the pose. Surrender your expectations.

If you can, stay for 8-10 breaths on each side in Warrior II. 


Next, have a seat on your mat. Take your legs wide to a straddle and take wide legged (seated) forward fold. You can walk your chest forward down toward the mat, tucking your chin into your chest. Or maybe you try an upright version of the stretch, with your fingertips placed on the ground behind your hips, and you lift up through the chest, finding a little backbend.

Deep breaths here, sending energy into the back body and the backs of the legs.

End with legs up the wall pose. Scoot your booty as close to the wall as you can, lay back, and then bring your legs up the wall. Allow your whole body to soften and rest. Let the breath slow down.

Come back to the feeling of when you started your practice. Notice your emotions, and where you may feel them in the body.

You can begin counting the breath for a few minutes, inhaling to a count of 4, and exhaling to a count of 5 or 6. Or, try inviting the mantra, I am that I am. On the inhale, I am. On the exhale, that I am.


Stay for as long as you like, taking your time to finish your practice and return to your day. Always the option here to spend a few minutes journaling about what came up for you. 

Here's a summary of the YOGA FOR SADNESS practice:
  • Seated meditation. Notice where in your body you may feel your emotions.
  • Cat/cow to warm up
  • Pigeon pose (1-5 minutes on each side)
  • Low lunge or lizard on each side (breathe into the hips)
  • Downdog
  • Warrior II
  • Seated wide legged forward fold (Upavistha Konasana)
  • Legs up the wall (deep rest)
  • Optional journaling :) 

May your yoga practice be an act of kindness toward your body, and a key to finding healing and peace. Namaste.

Photos in this post by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography (1-4, 6), and Felipe Silva of The Uprise Collective (5). Graphic illustration created using Canva.

Have a Fun Weekend.

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What are you lovely yogis up to this weekend?

 I'm looking forward to visiting with my sister, brother-in-law and nephews, having a picnic on the beach, drinking wine, pancakes for breakfast, smores in the fire pit, and taking it easy.

 Here are some fun links from around the web:

 How storytelling can help you set a new habit.

 The documentary on loving your body that I can't wait to see.

 The insomniac in me totally wants to try this quirky method for falling asleep.

 'When I've lost 20 pounds, I'll be happy with who I am.'

 Five yoga poses to help you prep for inversions (PS the article has great info about shoulder anatomy!)

 Mental health resources for when you can't afford to see a therapist.

 Refreshing iced coffee recipes. Mmm!

Plus, this week's posts on Alive in the Fire, in case you missed them or want to revisit:

 A yoga practice for when you're feeling blissed out.
On letting go of what others think of me.
Hugs.
Pretty pictures for days when it feels good to be quiet, and still.

Photos in this post by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.

Letting Go of What Others Think

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Yesterday on Instagram I posted about a topic that I keep coming back to lately...

 Letting go.

 Right now I'm working on letting go of caring what others think of me. 

 I had a moment yesterday where I thought, 'You know, today has been a really good day.' And then I listed off the reasons it was a good day, and none of them were related to me; they all had something to do with other people -- granted, people in my life that I love and care about, but not me. 

 And I thought, 'I want to be happy with myself regardless of what's going on with other people, and outside of their opinions of me.' 

This is something I struggle with, that I've struggled with for a long time without realizing it; I constantly look for approval from others. 

 I base my happiness on the happiness of those around me. 

  And sometimes, as an empath, I feel my energy merge with that of those who are close to me, and I struggle to separate my experience from theirs. 

 So, how do I work on this? How do I create my own experience, and develop my own self-worth outside of what's going on around me, or what other people think of me? 

 My yoga practice is a good starting place. When I'm on my mat, it's just me. I give myself permission to move in my own way, to feel what I feel, to let go of shit, and to be imperfect. 

 Re-reading this very blog has been helpful lately, too, as I've been writing about the topic of loving myself for YEARS. 

This struck me yesterday, actually...I have so many posts about self-love, self-acceptance, and compassion! I have given myself so much advice on this topic! Haha. It almost felt silly to realize I have all this advice and I still struggle to take it in...to practice what I preach. 

 But, coming back to the theme: LET GO. Be present. Begin again in this moment.

Namaste.

 Photos in this post by Tom Huynh.

Sneak in a Hug

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What if today my purpose is not to do anything besides sneak in a hug with someone that I love?

To surprise them and bring them a smile as they suddenly find themselves wrapped up in my arms.


What if today is simply meant for expressing love?


Not doing, but being.

A human.

In love.


Someone who shares this love.

Photos in this post found via Pinterest.

PS Hugs, and more hugs.

Yoga Poses for When Your Heart is Full

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Feeling blissed out?

Try this little yoga sequence. Notice how simply by creating certain shapes in your body, you're able to feel a deep sense of blissfulness and joy.

Here's a new post in the yoga for healing series that's perfect for days when you're feeling joyful, in love, lighthearted, and radiant.

Try these poses as a way to express your happiness, and radiate love to those around you.


If possible, do 3 rounds of sun salutations to warm up the body and link movement with breath.

Step into star pose. Feet can be about hip width or wider, and bring your arms overhead. Reach up and take up a lot of space. Bring your gaze up toward the sky or to your fingertips.

Breathe in a long, slow exhale, and a full, energizing exhale.

Do this three or four times, just noticing the feeling of your feet on the ground, the energy in your body, and the space you're in.


Spend some time on your mat experiencing Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I) pose. Step your feet wide apart. Let your front knee bend deeply as you press into your back foot, feeling the outer edge of your foot ground down.

Take your arms overhead with a deep breath in. Reach through the fingertips and feel the arms engage.

Picture sending out joyfulness and happiness-- letting it radiate down through your legs and feet, up and out the crown of the head, and through the arms and out the fingertips.

Take up a lot of space here. Breathe! Feel.

Do a few sets of this pose on each side, building some heat in the body.

If you've got time and you're feeling energized, feel free to do 3-5 minutes of core work after this (lying on your back- supta baddha situps, or maybe seated, in boat pose).


Next, alternate between goddess pose (malasana) and crow pose (bakasana). 

In goddess, lift through the chest, and take your concentration to your heart center. Envision lifting that energy of loving kindness up into the heart, all the way up the spine and out the crown of the head.

Plant your hands firmly and rock your weight forward onto your palms, coming into crow pose. Let this playful arm balance be a chance to express gratitude and trust for where you are right now, in this moment.

Squeeze your knees into the backs of your upper arms, and press the arms into your knees, feeling a strong connection there. Lift up on the pelvic floor, gaze forward, and fly.

See if you can stay for 6-8 breaths (or more, if crow is already in your practice). Notice how your mind and body might want to jump ahead to the next moment-- the next thought, the next pose-- can you stay with what is? Can you notice everything about this moment and be in this breath?

Can you let your heart be full, even in a challenging pose like crow pose? Maybe you don't lift up the feet just yet, but can you feel a sense of contentment with the work you are doing and the strength you are building?


Rest for a few moments in child's pose, then make your way to your back.

Come into bridge pose: press down through your feet, lift your hips, squeeze your inner thighs. Work your shoulders a little more under your body, and feel your chest come up toward your chin. Direct energy in your thighs away from the hips, toward the knees. Picture squeezing a block between your thighs, to keep that engagement.

Close your eyes.

Bring your attention to your upper back, between the shoulder blades. Notice the front body, the chest, the beating of your heart.

Backbends are a way to express openness, vulnerability, and to welcome in whatever emotions are present.

Stay for a few breaths, feeling whatever comes up for you in this pose.


Here's a summary of the YOGA FOR BLISS practice:
  • 3 sun salutations to warm up
  • Star pose 
  • Warrior I on each side (can be repeated 3 or 4 times to build heat in the body)
  • Optional - 3-5 minutes of ab work, either seated, or on your back
  • Goddess pose
  • Crow pose
  • Feel free to move between goddess and crow 3 or 4 times, seeing how long you can stay, and cultivating awareness of the present moment (strong Ujjayi breath!)
  • Child's pose (rest for a few breaths)
  • Bridge pose (or Wheel, if it's in your practice)
  • Shavasana 

May your yoga practice be an act of kindness toward your body, and a key to finding healing and peace. Namaste.

Photos in this post by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography (1), Tom Huynh (2, 5), and Felipe Silva of The Uprise Collective (3, 4). Graphic illustration created using Canva.

Have a Fantastic Weekend!

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What are you guys up to this weekend? I'm excited for date night at a local wine bar, sleeping in, going to a local Oyster Fest event, taking it easy on Father's Day, and sharing as many hugs as possible. :)

Some fun links from around the web...

 This couscous salad looks yummy.

30 ways yoga teachers can make more money, from Yogipreneur.

 Yoga postures for hot summer days.

 Let go of stress.

 Funny #dadquotes for Father's Day. Plus, Father's Day gift ideas.

 40 fun and free things to do this summer.

And some of this week's posts on Alive in the Fire, in case you missed them:

 Ways to boost your self-esteem, if you're feeling critical of your body.
A documentary about loving yourself as you are.
Yogi Surprise June and celebrating the summer solstice.
Don't be stinky after yoga!
Yoga poses for if you're feeling angry.

Photos by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.

Embrace, a Documentary About Loving Yourself as You Are

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Have you guys heard about the documentary Embrace?

I heard about the film back when it was being funded through Kickstarter, and I just watched the trailer (it releases in September 2016 in the U.S.)

Taryn's story (and the people she talks to) bring tears to my eyes every time I watch.


Here's the description from the YouTube trailer:

When Body Image Activist Taryn Brumfitt posted an unconventional before-and-after photo in 2013 it was seen by more than 100 million people worldwide and sparked an international media frenzy. EMBRACE follows Taryn’s crusade as she explores the global issue of body loathing, inspiring us to change the way we feel about ourselves and think about our bodies.

What Taryn is doing and the message she is sharing through The Body Image Movement is just incredible. 

You may have seen my post earlier this week about struggling to love my body lately, and the timing of seeing this trailer really resonates with me.

I invite you to check out the film, and Taryn's story, especially if you've struggled with body image or are experiencing loathing toward your own body.

Sending a big hug.

Namaste.

Are You New to Yoga?

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Yoga beginners, welcome!
I'm so happy for you, that you're adding yoga to your wellness routine :)

Here at Alive in the Fire, I believe in encouraging everyone to try yoga.

Check out these posts to get started, and feel free to contact me with any questions.

For Beginners
  • Tips for yoga beginners.
  • My all-time favorite yoga DVDs.
  • Yoga poses for chronic pain.
  • Do you have an injury or need to modify your practice? Be gentle with yourself. Here's a post from when I was recovering from intense sciatica.
  • Do you feel flustered with questions in class? That's normal. Embrace your curiosity and ask away. Be patient and the answers will come. This post is great if you want to learn more about various styles of yoga, too.
  • Calm your fire by taking a restorative Yin Yoga class.
  • Need help deciding what style of yoga is right for you? This book and this website can help.
Vinyasa Yoga
  • I did my 200 hour teacher training in Vinyasa yoga, with Baron Baptiste's teaching at the foundation. Here are some reflections on how I memorized the vinyasa flow.
  • Have you fallen away from your practice? Now is a great time to get back on track.
Dharma Yoga
Bikram Yoga
  • An in-depth guide to surviving your first Bikram class.
  • We are all beginners, every class. That's why the teacher says, "Welcome to Bikram's beginning yoga class."
  • On having no fear and having fun in class. You choose not to suffer. 
  • What to eat and drink before class in the Hot Room.
  • How to quit the fidget and get focused in class.
  • Visit Bikram Headquarters to find certified studios near you, get more information on Bikram Yoga Teacher Training, and read the official posture guide.
Meditation
Want to get in touch? Email me: aliveinthefire at gmail dot com.