So, You Want to Be a Yoga Teacher...

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I realized something the other night after teaching a yoga class...

One of the best ways you can support your students is to remind them of the power of their breath.

Simply being asked to breathe more, and to focus on our breath, has an incredibly healing effect. Our bodies calm, our thoughts slow down a bit, and we become more aware of the present moment.

When you breathe fully in a pose, you are able to receive the benefits of the pose. The pose 'sinks' in. On a physical level, this can translate to muscles relaxing, which can mean you achieve a deeper stretch in a posture.

My friend thanked me the other night after class, and he said, "Thank you for reminding me to breathe. I really needed that."

So, say you want to be a yoga teacher, but you haven't done a training yet?

Practice showing up for someone in your life, and remind them to breathe a little more deeply. Give them a small way to remember to be in their body -- to feel their feet on the ground. To stretch and release some stress.

To breathe.

Share your yoga practice this way, through your breath, which is your greatest teacher.

Namaste.

Photos in this post by friends and (last photo) CKCImage.com.

Have a Beautiful Friday!

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You must love in such a way that the other person feels free.
-Thich Nhat Hanh


Wishing you a beautiful Friday from the team at Alive in the Fire! May your day and your weekend be inspired by love and light.
 


First photo by Ken Johnson of CKC Image. Second and third photos courtesy of Kelsie and Yani. 

Let's Trade Lives for a Day

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Do you ever get stuck in worrying about your own life? Where you feel heavy and weighed down by responsibilities, expectations, and obligations? Do you ever find your own emotions overwhelming and your relationships challenging?

 Today, a thought for you to consider:

 Picture yourself trading lives with someone you know.

Maybe a friend, a family member, a colleague, or even the waiter who works at your favorite restaurant.

 What if, only for a day, that person could take over your worries and you could trade them in for theirs?

 What would happen?

 Obviously you're not actually going to do this -- and I'm not saying that trading would make your life easier or better in any way -- but don't you think that if you suddenly stepped into someone else's shoes, you might discover new things to be grateful for, in spite of all the worries and frustrations in that person's life?

A mom who's sick of hearing her kid cry -- suddenly you're in her spot and you have this rare, incredible chance to hold a baby. In that mama's shoes, instead of feeling a burden, you feel wonder at the site of a baby's face, and beautiful fingers and toes. Maybe you've always wished you could be a parent, and this experience of holding a child gives you a new appreciation for that role.

 Or, you swap in for someone whose bank account is empty and they're piling up debt on a credit card. Maybe you trade lives with someone who has just lost a loved one. Yet instead of guilt or fear or grief, you're suddenly able to notice all the love that surrounds this person. The way their friends and family are offering such steadfast support and encouragement, the way they say, "I love you," and really mean it. You see the light and love surrounding this person, despite the dark struggle that they're going through.

Try playing this game in reverse: picture whoever that person is who trades in and steps into your life. What do they notice? What blessings are they surrounded by? Who talks to them? What freedom do they suddenly have?

 It's my prayer that letting your imagination run wild might help you see the beauty that surrounds you, all the little things there are to be grateful for.

 In this precious moment.

 And in your whole one wild and precious life.

 Namaste.

You're Invited to Join the Alive in the Fire Email Newsletter

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Happy Monday, yogis! Hope you had a beautiful weekend.

I wanted to take a moment to invite you to join my email newsletter! :) Exciting times... it only took me 5+ years to get my act together as a blogger and get an email list going. Ha!

In all honesty, I would love if you join the list... you guys are the reason I write and you make this community what it is. :) I'll be sharing updates with recent blog posts, ideas for kicking your yoga practice into gear, info about my upcoming coastal yoga retreat (!!!), and other fun updates. There's a signup form below, and a spot in the sidebar at the right where you can always sign up.


Alive in the Fire Newsletter

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Thanks, as always for being a part of Alive in the Fire! Namaste.

Photos in this post by Brynna Bryant and Tom Huynh.

I Love You

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Photos by Tom Huynh.

Look in the mirror, look yourself in the eye, and say, 'I love you.' 

 Are you willing to do that? To be loving toward yourself. Compassionate and kind, like you would be to a friend. 

 Don't talk shit about yourself. Treat yourself with the respect and forgiveness and generosity you deserve. You deserve greatness! If ever a moment comes along when you forget that this is true, just go find a mirror. 


 Look into your own eyes and say it out loud: I love you!

 Have a sigh and pat yourself on the back and laugh at how easy that was. 

 Have a moment to remember. And then just keep on being you-- loving, imperfect, and beautiful-- and keep forgiving yourself along the way.

I'm sharing this because for the last few weeks I've felt a little out of sorts, and extra hard on myself. My thought patterns can become negative and judgmental and even though I'm aware of it I still struggle to get out of that mindset. 

 This week it shifted. I've been taking more classes, letting myself move freely and breathing into the spaces of each pose. When my mat is surrounded by supporting and loving people, I'm reminded of how awesome I am, and how I'm an important part of my community. It also helps a lot when I'm willing to open up to friends and be vulnerable and release some of the shit that I don't need to hold on to.

 It's so helpful to teach from this space of feeling empowered and connected. After teaching one of my classes this week, many of the students said thank you with these big happy smiles on their faces. 'They are all so kind to me,' I thought. 'Why wouldn't I want to be just as kind to myself?' 

 Just a little reminder that I hope inspires you and inspires me when I come back to read it tomorrow, or 3 months from now, or a year... :)

Love is In the Air (Plus, a Yogi Surprise February Box Review)

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Photo by Tom Huynh.

Hi, yogis! Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day weekend.

 Mine felt like a little stay-cation... it was so nice to rest and relax, get in the spa, go for a sushi date, enjoy heartfelt conversations and long hugs, and take a few yoga classes.

 What did you do to celebrate? I hope you included some celebration of YOU and that you took some time to cultivate self-love! Whether or not you're in a partnership, it's so important to love yourself.

Photo by Tom Huynh.

I've also been enjoying my February Yogi Surprise subscription box. When that beautiful little purple box arrives each month, I'm reminded to take some time for myself to rejuvenate.

 This month's card inside read:

 "When we're loving ourselves, we're loving the life that's right here; caring for the patterns and emotions that emerge moment to moment. Let your intention to be to hold yourself with an unconditional and accepting presence. It is through this open acceptance that unconditional love flows."

 Couldn't have said it better!

Photo by Tom Huynh.

My three favorite items from the February box:

 1. The Dive-In Deck. These awesome cards are meant to inspire inner dialogue, so I've been using them as journal prompts. These sparked my interest: 
- "Whose radiant inner beauty inspires you?" 
- "What adventure would you embark upon if there were no limitations?" 
- "How does mindfulness create a sacred experience out of the seemingly mundane?"
Graphic from @diveindeck on Instagram.

2. Joshua Tree Skin Care Healing Salve. This stuff is amazing. I put it on my feet right before bed and it leaves my skin feeling nourished and soft after a long day of being on my feet.
Photo via Joshua Tree Skin Care.

Photo via Emmy's Organics.

Keep loving yourself! XO

Sacramento Seva Yoga: Studio Lotus

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Today I'm honored to bring you my first Sacramento Seva Yoga studio review.

 In case you hadn't heard, I'm teaming up with Respiro Photography for a project all about local Sacramento yoga studios. Over the next few months, my friend Brynna and I will be attending classes all around the area, learning more about the community offerings, thanking teachers for the incredible work that they do, and searching for one lucky yogi who will be given the chance to do a free photo shoot this summer.

 I'd love to hear your feedback on the project, and if you're a yogi or yoga teacher who is interested in doing a photo shoot, please feel free to contact me at aliveinthefire at gmail dot com for more details.

My first stop on the tour was Studio Lotus in Rocklin. I took a Sunday morning community class with Lucy Somers. Lucy teaches an empowering and encouraging all-levels flow, and the energy of the group for this class felt enthusiastic, warm, and lighthearted. Thank you, Lucy, for sharing your passion for yoga and your kind heart with your students!

Sacramento Seva Yoga: Studio Lotus

Vibe of the space: Cozy, welcoming, down-to-earth

 Favorite moments from class: Before Child's pose, Lucy asked us to meet our neighbors and say hi to someone we didn't know. I love when teachers offer the opportunity to get to know other yogis and build a supportive environment in the room! I also loved Lucy's cue about Halfway Lift / Standing Half Forward Bend pose (Ardha Uttanasana)-- she said to pretend like her favorite Starbucks drink, a matcha green tea latte, was resting on your upper back. Later she reminded us, "Don't spill my latte!" It was a clever and memorable way to cue engagement of the upper back :)

 Reasons I can't wait to come back: Not only is the community at Studio Lotus welcoming and fun, but the people there are very genuine and just happy to be able to practice together. I chatted with several other teachers who attended the class, and each person I talked to invited me to come back. I left feeling uplifted and grateful, and I'll definitely be back!

 Studio location: 1150 Sunset Blvd #154, Rocklin, CA 95765
Phone: (916) 624-9642
Seva (free) community class offerings: Sundays from 9am-10:15am
Is this studio on the Sac-Sierra Yoga list? YES (see all participating studios here)


  


Thanks for following along, and if you feel inspired to share, please send the link for this post to any local Sacramento yoga students, teachers or studio owners you think might be interested in being part of Sacramento Seva Yoga!

Our goals with this project are to:
  • explore the local Sacramento and northern California yoga community
  • experience classes from teachers who are making a difference in the world and have the opportunity to thank them for what they do
  • meet new yoga friends
  • give back to our community with blog publicity and the photo shoot offering
  • share love and kindness
Stay tuned for the next studio visit at Yoga Reclaimed in Auburn.

Namaste.

A Mindfulness Practice for Today

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Photo by Two Twenty Photos.
Consider this for a daily practice...

What if, as many sages have said, we take a fifteen-second break every fifteen minutes to gauge what is most authentic in that moment? 

What would happen if you gave yourself permission to take a little bit of rest throughout your day? And to check in frequently with your emotional state?

A dear friend of mine recently made this suggestion and I'm so grateful. I'm going to try it out today and see how it feels.

I choose to take this day moment by moment, and to move, act, and breathe freely, as authentically as I can.

Three Ways to Let Go of Stress

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Are you stressed? I don't know about you, but December has certainly been bringing plenty of challenges my way. There have been a lot of opportunities to put my yoga practice to the test. 

Do I choose to take a deep breath, or do I start to freak out?

In case you're having an overwhelming month too, I wanted to offer three simple ideas for how to relieve stress and feel more grounded and empowered.

Three Simple Ways to Relieve Stress

1. Take five deep breaths.

 Give yourself permission to stop what you're doing and focus your attention on your lung power. Draw breath in through your nostrils all the way down into your belly. Feel expansion as you inhale, and release as you exhale. Do these deep breaths at least five times. Not just one breath, but five. ;)

2. Make yourself a cup of tea and drink it slowly.

 What tastes and smells do you find comforting? Look for a tea with ingredients in it that immediately give you a sense of calm. My new favorite is a lavender, nutmeg and rose tea from

Buddha Teas

. As soon as I smell it, I feel a little less crazy. And by the time I've finished drinking a cup that has a little bit of honey stirred in, I'm in a much better place.

3. Talk to a friend who you're comfortable crying in front of.

 Ask for a hug. Open up about what's really going on. Try not to hold anything back. Spend some time with that person who you know will love you no matter what, whether you need an ugly cry or just to vent about your day.

What has been helping you release stress during this holiday season?

Namaste

. XO

Tools for Yoga Teachers When Sequencing a Vinyasa Flow

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There's a lot that goes into a yoga class. The postures... the music... theming... it all makes a difference in how the yogis in the room experience the practice.

Careful, intelligent sequencing is important in order for a class to feel effortless and nourishing to the body.

As a yoga teacher, it can be challenging to come up with a variety of vinyasa sequences. What can you do to get inspired?

One tool I love using when I'm creating a vinyasa yoga flow is the 

Yoga Sequencing Deck 

by Jillian Bobowicz

. The deck features 100 double-sided cards showing yoga poses and transitions based on Vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga poses.

It's great for any level class, and especially useful if you're a visual learner. Plus, it's fun! :) I was recently joking with my friend and fellow teacher that we should play a game with our yoga friends where you have to draw a card and do the pose :)

This tool would be great for yogis who are in teacher training, too. You can consider the pace of a class and the anatomy of your students as they move from pose to pose.

Are you memorizing a sequence like the Baptiste Flow? Try something like this to mix it up, and/or quiz yourself on how you'd cue students into the pose.

My other advice for yoga teachers who are looking to mix up their flow is to always practice what you want to teach, to see how it feels in your body.

Yogis are all different shapes and sizes, and at different times our bodies crave different movements. Some days we want to move fast, and other days, slow. Some days we want more challenge and other days we want to rest more or linger whenever a pose feels good.

I don't always practice what I'm going to teach the day of my class, but I try my best to do the flow in the week or so prior to teaching it. Sometimes doing this will reveal a change that's needed; swapping the order of a few poses, leaving something out of the flow, or starting over and doing something totally different.

I also recommend trying new yoga classes with teachers you've never taken before. This isn't really so you can copy exact sequencing or re-invent what you do... in fact, I encourage you to resist the temptation to compare yourself or judge another's teacher's class as 'better' or 'worse' than yours. We all teach a little bit differently, and that allows yoga to be accessible to more yogis!

Just notice the way a class is structured. Notice if there is a 'peak' pose in the practice, or a particular transition that feels really sweet in the body.

Notice the moments when you are challenged, or the moments when you fall so fully into present awareness that you stop caring what's on your to-do list or what emails you have to reply to or what you're going to fix for dinner.

How did the teacher bring you to that place? How were the yoga postures arranged so that the sequencing felt effortless?

Above all else, be gentle with yourself. Teaching yoga is a learning process. Every pose offers wisdom. Every class is an opportunity to share, to connect, and to generate peace.

Your class is wonderful and impactful whether you teach it effortlessly or you mix up your transitions or forget one side of a pose.

What matters, what your students feel, is when you show up fully and give what you can. When you breathe with them and support them in their growth and healing. And when you are willing to notice what sequencing worked, and what wasn't great -- and take that knowledge and apply it to your next class.

Continue practicing, feeling the flow move through your body, enjoying the poses.

Want more tips? Check out my book, Creating Confidence: A Practical Guide for Aspiring Yoga Teachers!