Remembering Who We Are

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We are all perfectly imperfect. The practice is just remembering who we have been all along.

This moment, as it is, requires nothing different.


I am. I breathe. I love. This is the true story.

I can choose to allow each experience to be a learning, an awakening, a softening. The practice is simply returning to the present moment.



I surrender to the present. I remember.

Letting it All In

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 Photos via My Morning Coffee.

I've been having one of those weekends when the little moments take my breath away.

When I look in the mirror and see deep gratitude. I see and feel my own beauty.

It's one of those days when, more than once, I smile with my eyes closed, knowing you're watching, feeling your body breathing near mine.


Sometimes it feels as though my heart is moving in the same slow, perfect way the stars do. Orbiting.

It feels as though every movement I make is itself a dance.


The sound of the rain on the ceiling comforts me. I sleep in the afternoon and let my body tell me when it's time to wake up.

I can be motionless or sipping a cup of coffee or walking in the garden and it's all so beautiful.


Loving deeply. Letting it all in.  Here I am.

Green Smoothies with Moringa and Chia

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Photo via Pinterest.

Lately I've been doing a lot of green smoothies for breakfast. They are simple, delicious, and a great way to start the day feeling energized.

I do a mix of fresh and frozen fruit, a large serving of greens, and some Greek yogurt. 


I also like to add in some superfoods: moringa powder and chia seeds. 

Moringa is high in B12, vitamin A and calcium and its antioxidant polyphenols detox and protect the liver, boost immunity via several mechanisms, and support healthy blood sugar and lipids. I recommend the Organic India brand; the powder mixes in easily and its flavor is subtle and reminds me of matcha green tea powder. (Side note: their teas are amazing too! The Tulsi Chai masala is my favorite.)


Chia is a great source of fiber, omega 3 fats, and calcium. 

Lately my favorite morning green smoothie includes:
  • frozen pineapple (3/4 cup)
  • frozen mango (1/2 cup)
  • 2 large handfuls green kale
  • plain or honey Greek yogurt (1/2 cup)
  • orange or mango juice
  • chia seed
  • Moringa powder

What do you like in your green smoothies?

PS Here's a helpful infographic about how to create the perfect green smoothie, with the right balance of greens, fruit, and other ingredients, if you need more ideas! :)

Photo illustration via Pinterest.

Self-Love is Powerful

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I came across a really beautiful idea today:

Self-love is the strongest weapon you have to combat negative feelings and deep fears.

Today, my intention is to love myself unconditionally. I will be grateful for all of the my unique features, eccentricities, strengths, limitations, and experiences. I invite healing and growth.

Photo by Cait Loper.

Today, instead of judging, I will simply witness myself. I will let things be as they are. I will remind myself: I am enough.

Found via Zen Habits on Tumblr.





Outdoor Adventures and Sports Gear for Yogis, Climbers and Hikers

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With spring just around the corner, I'm starting to get excited for some adventures in the mountains. It's been far too long since I went camping, went hiking, or rock climbed outdoors!

 I've always wanted to try mountain biking, too. Do you guys like going on outdoor adventures?

I recently discovered this awesome site called The Clymb, where you can find sports gear for a wide variety of activities -- everything from yoga clothes to cycling gear, camping supplies and running shoes. 

If I could pick any outfit for my next yoga in the park session, I'd have to go with this sexy top and sweet pair of leggings:
 

 And for hiking and biking:
 
The site carries a lot of high-quality brands like Patagonia, PrAna, Lucy, Columbia and Adidas, but with discounts of up to 70% off retail prices. Very helpful for someone like me who would rather spend a reasonable amount on gear, and have more of my budget for traveling to cool locations to enjoy nature! :)


I'm thinking a trip to Tahoe is in order in the near future... and eventually I'd like to plan to take a few vacation days for a trip down to Yosemite, Death Valley or the coast up near Mendocino. I haven't gone exploring in forever, and it would feel really good to be away from the city and in a place where it's quiet enough to hear the wind through the trees, and dark enough at night to see the stars :)

Since I was a little girl, I've always loved being outdoors and traveling. When I was a kid, my dad would always take my brother, sister and me camping. I loved having no set schedule, and the way we'd let our days be determined by the sunrise and sunset rather than any specific plans. We'd wander on the trails and listen to him tell stories. We'd search for animal tracks and unusual birds. We were always on the look out for bears and poison oak, and we didn't mind when the red dirt got on our shoes.

Nothing quite compares to being away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and free from cars and noise and screen time :)



A few trips that are on my list for sure:

  • climb in Moab with my friend who's grown up in Utah
  • do a bicycle tour (1-2 weeks cycling and camping)
  • hike in Alaska
  • see the Grand Canyon
  • explore the beaches in Thailand
  • climb Half Dome
  • teach yoga abroad as a guest teacher (at a studio or retreat center)
What excursions do you want to take this year?

PS What's the coolest place you've practiced yoga outdoors?

Happiness (I'm 26 Today!)

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Today is my 26th birthday, and I’m feeling grateful.

I am so blessed, and I live such a beautiful life.

I am surrounded by loved ones who care about me and lift me up. I have a healthy body, a stable job, and a comfortable home. I am able to share my passion for yoga with others. I am a student and I am a teacher. I have a vibrant yoga community and studio to call home, and I continue to connect with yogis around the country through this lovely little blog.

Yesterday I took a moment to sit on the grass at a local park, and I was stunned by how happy I felt. I am so, so grateful to be in a place in my life where I feel calm, centered, grounded, and at peace.

May my next year of living be a beautiful expression of love. May I grow and learn every day. May I continue to live fearlessly, love courageously, give humbly, and cherish each moment as it comes along.

PS A very happy birthday to my beautiful twin sister too!

Urban Flow with Rusty Wells (A Guest Post)

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Photo via Pinterest.

Have you ever practiced yoga in San Francisco?

One studio I’ve been meaning to try for a while is Urban Flow, where Rusty Wells teaches. He’s a favorite of several of my teachers.

Lindsay, one of my friends from teacher training, recently experienced a class at his studio. Here are some of her reflections on the experience…
Photo via Pinterest.

I visited Urban Flow for the first time, to experience a Rusty Wells Bhakti flow class.  I was inspired by Rick Anglemoyer and Cathy Connors, a couple of my favorite teachers. Despite all my good intentions, I was anxious about being in San Francisco and heading into the studio alone.  So after climbing a looong flight of stairs, I was grateful to receive a warm welcome and orientation from the front desk girl.

 I had been so nervous about this new adventure that I’d arrived twenty minutes early even after being warned that Rusty’s classes always run late, and I’d already done my paperwork online, so I had thirty minutes to sit, sip water, and try to calm down.  I sat down on one of the wide benches in the lobby area and as I waited, I could hear Chammak Challo playing!  It’s one of my favorite Bollywood songs, and so I relaxed and rocked my shoulders side to side remembering that I was exactly where I was supposed to be, and in this case, it was somewhere fun.
Photo by Daniel Rebert.

Finally I heard the closing chant and sweaty people started pouring out of both doors (good thing there are two hydration stations!).  When I got inside, I was grateful to see that there would be plenty of space for my extra-long mat.  In fact, attendance in the 11 am basics class was lighter than the 9am level 2/3.  I was a little disappointed that I wouldn’t be experiencing a 200-person mat-to-mat city yoga class – guess I just have to go back :)

 The studio itself has lots of natural light, with plenty of windows.  I set up in the middle and started a conversation with the woman next to me.  It had been a while since she had been in the studio, she said, but she considered it a great place and she welcomed me.  As class started, our first instructions were to meet the people next to us, so she and I exchanged names and I also met the woman on my left.  I love meeting the people I’m practicing next to.  We’re sharing the same air.  Often we’re sweating on each other, too. And it’s so great to create some familiarity in a new place.

Photo by Daniel Rebert.

When we settled in to our comfortable seated poses, I realized Neil Wadhawan was sitting at the front of the room, directly in front of me!  Even though I’ve only seen the guy twice, it was lovely to see a familiar face next to the legendary Rusty Wells.  It turned out that Neil assisted our class, along with a woman whose name I didn’t quite catch.  She gave me great directional assists for my foot, drishti gazing point, and shoulders, and she brought me deeper into a twisted lunge.

 Rusty himself can be kind of a cheese ball.  I love that because it reminds me to smile even when that cheese ball is guiding me into an uncomfortable pose.  He also offered great technical cues.  My favorite was creating a wave-like motion with the spine when transitioning from cat to cow to cat.  I particularly enjoyed that because I have a giant, heavy bun on top of my head that basically exaggerates the feeling of any spinal movement.  I didn’t notice any vinyasa flows or Chaturanga – which I know my teacher training cohort would appreciate!  That may have been less due to Bhakti flow than to the “basic” nature of the class, or I have simply done so many Chaturangas in teacher training that I no longer acknowledge them. 
Photo by Daniel Rebert.

Before attending Rusty’s class, I was told that he is a very present or tuned-in person. This is something I found to be true.  Every time I looked at him, I saw his bright eyes looking deeply at the other students, or at me.  Well, actually once I saw him swinging a little kid around at the back of the room, which was pretty adorable.  So he seemed to be paying attention to everyone.  At one point, we were in tree pose and he asked us what kind of tree we were.  I thought “oak” just as he said, “Oak?  Yes, I thought so.”  It was probably totally a coincidence, but I’d rather think he already knows how much I love the Folsom scrub oaks, haha.

 At the end of class, as we lay in a fetal position on our right side, he asked us to call to mind someone we love and repeat his words back to him for this person.  I had no idea what he was going to say, but I was along for the ride, so I repeated:  “May you be happy…  May you be healthy…  May you be free from suffering…  I’m sorry for those things I did…  Especially that one really big thing…  I love you very much…”  And then I think he said “baby poop,” which either I didn’t hear correctly or was intended to lighten the mood after such a beautifully intense moment.

 I walked out of the class feeling like I’d found a little piece of home in San Francisco. There were definitely similarities between Urban Flow and Leap Yoga, my home studio. Everyone I talked to was friendly and let their light shine.  And I am definitely ready to visit again!

Photo by Lucy Liu.

Thanks, Lindsay, for sharing your experience… hope we can head back down to San Francisco for another Bhakti class soon. Namaste!

Eating Clean (Have You Ever Done a Cleanse? Are You Vegan?)

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Photos via Pinterest.

This week I’m experimenting with doing a vegan cleanse.

I found this program at a local restaurant where you can buy meals and juice for the week—all vegan, organic food. I picked up everything on Sunday afternoon and set it in the fridge, feeling excited about the idea of eating clean in a way that’s convenient for me. I was a little worried about being hungry – the portions for everything are pretty small, and they really recommend only eating about 1.5 meals (plus juice and a smoothie) each day.

Turns out, the amount of food seems to fit pretty well with my levels of hunger… but I’m really not a huge fan of most of the recipes they’ve used (they taste weird!), and I’m disappointed in how none of the food seems fresh. (It makes sense that it wouldn’t after sitting in my fridge for a few days… but somehow this did not occur to me when I signed up, ha.)


There’s really something to be said for preparing your food right before you eat it – not only so that you get the best quality and taste, but also so that you create a connection to the food as its being prepared, allowing your body to be more ready to receive nutrition.

I think in the future I will opt to plan out and prepare my own food for a cleanse. I love the idea of eating unprocessed foods and incorporating healthy green juices and smoothies into my diet, but this plan feels forced. I am not enjoying my food as I eat it, and that makes me a little sad.

Have you ever done a cleanse? Do you have any healthy recipes you recommend?

I’d love your ideas on eating well :)



PS I’m also reading this book called The Yoga of Eating by Charles Eisenstein. 

I love this quote: “True discipline is really just self-remembering; no forcing or fighting is necessary.” 

As I continue to move forward with the cleanse this week, and as I incorporate better food into my diet, I want to be gentle with myself, patiently moving toward my best self—healthy from the inside out.

I'm a Yoga Teacher!

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Photo by Cait Loper Photography. 
Hi lovely yogis!

Exciting news: I’m teaching yoga classes!!!

I've added a page to Alive in the Fire so you can keep up with my upcoming classes in the Sacramento area. Hope to see you on your mat soon.

PS If you’re a yogi in the Sac area who’s interested in doing one-on-one classes, feel free to send me an email at aliveinthefire at gmail dot com.


Santosha: Contentment

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Photos via Pinterest.

In this moment, I am happy.

In this moment, I am full, content, alive.

In this moment, I feel a peaceful kind of happiness where I can rest without desire.


On my mat, I am content with where I am in the posture today. I accept this moment as it is.

Today, I practice santosha. I practice contentment.


Yogachicago.com describes santosha this way:

“Contentment is serenity, but not complacency. It is comfort, but not submission; reconciliation, not apathy; acknowledgment, not aloofness. Contentment is a mental decision, a moral choice, a practiced observance, a step into the reality of the cosmos. Contentment/santosha is the natural state of our humanness and our divinity and allows for our creativity and love to emerge. It is knowing our place in the universe at every moment. It is unity with the largest, most abiding, reality.”

Yoga Mat Straps

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Photos via The Apron Shop.

I've discovered my favorite yoga mat carrying strap: the yoga sling via The Apron Shop on Etsy. The shop's owner, Carmen, was kind enough to donate straps for me and my sponsored yogis, and we love them!

The strap makes it super easy to carry my mat to and from the studio, and I love that it's lightweight, durable, and compact. 

 

The shop also features mat carrying bags, and all the items are very reasonably priced.

As my sponsored yogi Justin said when he received the mat sling: "Look who's ready for class!" :)

I highly recommend checking out The Apron Shop!

Celebrating Yoga Teacher Training Graduation

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Yogis, I did it! I completed my first yoga teacher training!

Vinyasa. 200 hours. Woohoo!!

I could not be more grateful for the experience, and for the other amazing trainees who joined me on the journey. We did some amazing work and each of us grew stronger, laughed, cried, and supported each other the whole way through.

I feel incredibly

empowered

 by the training, and more than ready to share yoga with my students. Thank you,

Leap

! And thank you: Corey, Cathy, Amy, Karl, Tracy, Rachel, Valerie, Aaron, Lisa, Lindsay, Susanne and Lauren -- you guys are rockstars. I can't wait to keep taking your classes :)

Our retreat weekend in Bodega Bay was such a beautiful end to the 5 months of training. We got to stay in a beautiful house right on the beach, and we ran around in the (freezing) water, meditated, chanted, ate amazing food, played silly games, and (of course) did hours and hours of yoga :)

It felt amazing to be near the water and to spend some time in

noble silence

, too. We did a hike together without speaking to each other. It's so powerful to be in community but also allow yourself some space to reflect and just

be

.

I also loved leading and participating in our kirtan. Singing and chanting always makes me feel so connected spiritually, and so grateful to engage in my practice and be reminded of the

humility and devotion

 that is part of my yoga.

It was so inspiring to take ten different 30-minute classes from my favorite yoga teachers. We each stepped into our voices as teachers and led beautiful flows...

So proud of all of you, TEACHERS, and so excited to see where teaching yoga takes each of us!

Gratitude

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Photo by the talented Cara Brostrom.

There is something to be grateful for in this moment, right here. 

Even when you are in pain, there can be gratitude.

Photo via Yoga Dudes on Tumblr.

Today I choose to bring a little smile to the corners of my mouth.

I choose to be grateful, even if it's only for this breath. I am grateful to bring my feet to my mat. To be blessed by those around me, by their love.

Photo by Christine Hewitt of Yogic Photos. (She's one of my absolute favorite yoga photographers!)

The world is alive with life and beauty.

Pause for a moment. See what you notice.

Namaste.

Changing Plans

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Photos via Pinterest.

How often do things go exactly as you’ve planned them?

Lately I’ve been thinking about the power of being flexible. Of living life in the moment, and being open to possibility, rather than having rigid expectations about how things will play out. How often are you able to surrender to the moment rather than freaking out when something unexpected comes along?

Whether it’s in the day-to-day experience of life or my goals for my future, it is when I am able to be fluid, gentle, and open that I truly experience the power of yoga off the mat.

Softening, opening, allowing… that is the yoga.

Today sponsored yogi Deborah Jane shares her experience with going with the flow, and how powerful it can be…
Photo courtesy of Deborah Jane.

This morning I planned to drop off my son and head right to the yoga studio for class with one of my favorite teachers. That was my plan—no indication that life would throw me a curve. When I went to get back in the car, my son didn’t want me to leave him. My six-year-old, who has zero attachment issues and never minds when I leave him with his friends, wanted me to stay.

“OK,” I reluctantly told him, growing more panicked as the minutes ticked by and I started to realize that I would be late for class. I don’t like being late. My anxiety grew to a full fledged panic, complete with dragging my little one into the ladies room with me so i could sit against the wall and breathe. Ha! Panic attacks because I am late to yoga? Isn’t it ironic? “Yoga’s become my drug and I need a fix,” I thought.

Several minutes later, while looking into my baby’s blue eyes, I had clarity. STAY with him. And i did. And he was happy and I was happy to be with him.

Isn’t that the real yoga? Being present to the moment, and just rolling with it?

I did end up making it to class. I stumbled in 15 minutes late, just as my teacher was asking the class, “What do we do when life doesn’t go according to our plan?”

Of course. That is the real yoga.

When my son was a baby and I was a frazzled, single mom, I remember coming to the studio and running into one of the teachers from my teacher training. He looked at me toting my boy and could see I was clearly sleep-deprived and feeling stressed. “That’s the real yoga,” he told me as he looked at us. I never forgot those words, and they still ring true.

When I slack at asana practice because life makes me too busy or tired, I come back to this: we practice on the mat so that we can show up with grace, dignity, and presence for our lives.

Om Namah Shivaya.

Thanks, Deborah, for sharing your beautiful perspective. Your words resonate in my heart and I am grateful for your honesty, strength and willingness to truly live your yoga. Namaste!

Am I Pretty Enough?

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I think the "Am I pretty enough?" question is one that a lot of yogis battle, women in particular. As we practice on the mat at home and in the studio, we find ourselves wondering: Am I beautiful? Is my body attractive (enough)? And can yoga transform me into someone sexier?


Putting on skin-tight yoga pants or some skimpy shorts for class leaves us over-thinking our body image or comparing ourselves to others around us. Some of us find our thoughts racing: can yoga help me lose weight? Do I need to lose weight? 


With the pressures of an appearance-driven society motivated by the superficial (and all the glamorous models and yoga teachers out there), we see may begin ourselves as less beautiful than we are.


We look in the mirror to find flaws, instead of the beauty that's there. Or we become hyper-conscious and/or hyper-critical of "problem" areas.



You know you've seen these kinds of people in yoga class -- the ones that can't stop staring at their asses in the mirror for a 90-minute Bikram class, or re-adjusting their clothes in the middle of the Ashtanga primary series, or staring at the cute teacher and winking as they stretch into upward dog with a suggestive exhale.

Instead of choosing to approach yoga in this way, we can offer the practice as sacred, loving devotion. In yoga, we honor our bodies, not judge them.


Or, on the other end of the spectrum, there are yogis who are too scared to leave the living room because ashamed or embarrassed about their bodies. They set up their mats at the back of the studio, hoping no one will notice muffin top, a flabby bum, or adult acne. They misconstrue their outer appearance as a measure of their own self-worth.


Believing in your beautiful body is important. So is understanding that we're not all made to be the same size or shape.

As someone who's always been on the curvier side, I've had periods in my life when I have felt unattractive, inadequate, or downright unlovable. I've been overweight, and wished like hell to lose it again so I can fit into my "skinnier" jeans. I've never been a size 4/6, and I never will be. 

But what I have come to learn is that I am in the body I'm meant to have, and that I'm beautiful the way I am. I also accept that my body will change over time, and that I can control some of those changes.



I've learned to make peace with who I am, inside and out. This isn't easy. It involves constantly re-accepting myself, being grateful for the capable body I have, and learning to cast off the messages around me about what it means to be "sexy."

In the interest of inspiring you guys to do the same, here are a few thoughts on how you can transform your thinking from, "Am I pretty enough?" to "How can I love myself better?"


Surround yourself with friends and family who support and love you. 

One of the best things you can do for your self-esteem is to put people in your life who will remind you that you are loved, just the way you are. They'll remind you that it's OK to eat brownies and potato chips now and then. They'll inspire you to go for a walk when you'd rather sit on the couch all day. 

Next, I highly recommend taking a long, hard look at your strengths. Instead of focusing on what you wish you could change, consciously choose to be grateful for what you love about yourself.


For every "flaw" you can find, there's something great about it. In my case, I couldn't do warrior-like yoga poses if not for my dancer's legs, which are curvy and muscular. My well-developed calves let me ride my bike like the wind. And because I've got hips, I look like a woman when I wear a dress, not a little girl.
  

When I take a close look at who I am, I know I'm beautiful. I'm real. I'm full of imperfections and blemishes which, when you look at the bigger picture, are no big deal.

  
Which brings me to another important point: I'm healthy in body, mind and spirit. 

 I am continuously learning to manage my stress, to find balance. I ask for what I need instead of trying to handle challenges on my own without the support of those who love me. When I set my mind to something, I can achieve it. I am strong and capable, with the willpower I need.


I replenish my spirit with love. I pray, believe, and act out my faith in the everyday. I share my passion with family and friends, express who I am in my writing, and cherish my relationships with others around me. Largely in part through my yoga, I have come to acknowledge and accept where I am in the present, in order to move toward a happier and healthier future.


I have begun to look in the mirror and smile instead of cringe at what I know is beautiful.


So, yes, I am pretty enough. And I know it doesn't always feel like it, but so are you.




For more inspiration on developing a healthy body image, see these posts from these bloggers:
Have you struggled to build a positive image of yourself? What have you learned? Please share your comments below, and thanks for reading!

A Book for Yoga Beginners

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Photos courtesy of Meagan McCrary.

When you’re new to the practice, the world of yoga can feel overwhelming.

I often hear a lot of questions from beginner yogis:
·         
- Which kind of yoga should I try?
- Can I practice if I’m not flexible?
- Will I be able to keep up?
- What’s the difference between vinyasa and yin?
- Should I try a hot class?
- Will other people notice that I don’t know what I’m doing?

A new student of mine put it this way when she was thinking about going to her first class: “I’m going to be such a mess!”

She was nervous about walking into a studio because she didn't know what to expect.



If you’re a new yogi looking for resources on what kind of yoga would be a good fit for you, I highly recommend checking out this book:

Pick Your Yoga Practice by Meagan McCrary.

 Here's a quote from the book I loved... it really speaks to how as you grow deeper in the experience of yoga, it begins to translate from the mat into your everyday life:

You may also notice that your yoga practice is a microcosm for your life. The way you are on your mat — how you respond to challenges, handle disappointment, and relate to yourself, how present you are, how willing you are to try new things — is the way you’ll be off your mat as well. In yoga, you get to “practice” being the way you want to be in a safe, contained environment. (After all, yoga practice is just that, practice.)*

If you've found yoga but you feel like you don't know where to start, pick up a copy of Meagan's book. Explore your options. And be patient with yourself -- you're at the beginning. And it's a great place to be.
*Excerpted from the book Pick Your Yoga Practice© 2013 by Meagan McCrary. Printed with permission of New World Library www.newworldlibrary.com