Leverage Your Life (A Guest Post by Sponsored Yogi Justin)

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Photos courtesy of Justin.

Am I living up to my highest potential?

This is a great question for spring time, when the earth itself shows signs of renewal, vital energy, and awakening. 

Every day is a new opportunity to invigorate your life, and notice what opportunities surround you. Today I have an inspiring post from sponsored yogi Justin on ways to fulfill your potential by leveraging the tools you have, including a yoga practice.


Leverage, or the use of something to its maximum advantage, has been coming up in my life recently.  

The concept first came up when I took a workshop on Thai Massage recently. If you aren't familiar with that form of massage... picture you and your massage therapist getting into all sorts of pretzel like contortions and at the end of the hour you will feel exactly like a Bavarian Pretzel: soft and yummy. 

What I learned in the workshop was that the various stretches are not used to induce a sense of intimate awkwardness, but to always leverage body weight. Body weight, not body strength, is used to massage the muscles to maximum effect with minimal effort. 

After 25 minutes of tossing my partner Molly around and giving her an amazing massage with a group of 50+ people surround us, she asked, "Wow, aren't you tired?" The honest answer was, "No." I wasn't tired because I leveraged my body weight and my muscles didn't have to do much except get a nice stretch. 


This past week I took a five day coaching course so that I could improve my career and my relationships. One of the surprising things I learned was that if I wanted to easily improve in those areas of my life I needed to work on my communication skills. 

Communication skills are leverage for improvement in other areas of my life. If I focus solely on career and relationships it will require a lot of effort. I'm effectively performing a Swedish massage on my life...things will improve, but it will be exhausting. 

What does this have to do with Yoga? Why am I posting this on a yoga blog, other than because I took the Workshop at a yoga studio? 


Well...What is yoga? It's a practice where I have to communicate with myself. 

I need to listen to my body, understand it, and sometimes ask it to do things it doesn't want to do. If I can't do that with myself, how well am I going to do that with a friend, a partner, a sibling, coworker, or boss? Probably not very well. 

If I take a more intensive yoga workshop or do 1 on 1 instruction then I WILL be asked to do something I either don't want to or physically can't perform and I be forced to communicate that to the instructor or I'll be communicating with a doctor or therapist. Either way I'm communicating with other! 

Yoga is not just yoga; yoga is leverage for your life.


This is so true! Thanks, Justin, for your wise words. Hope you yogis are making time to leverage your lives and spend some time on your mats this week! 

Relief for Sciatica Pain

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I've had a couple days with sciatica pain this week. Here’s how I’m dealing:

Coming to my mat at home. A gentle, slow-moving yoga practice serves me right now, and the pace and energy of a power vinyasa class is too much.

Frog pose and double pigeon feel amazing. Warrior poses and revolved triangle, not so much.

Awareness and patience. I build these through meditation.

Massage. It can be painful, but there is a lot of release. I work with some fantastic massage therapists and I’ve been consistent with my foam roller and tennis ball for on my own, too.

Reiki. Energy healing works wonders!

Rest. Perhaps most important on this list: remembering to make time for me, to be in stillness. Healing takes time.


Have you ever had sciatica pain? What helped?

True Beauty

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Being beautiful means believing in yourself. Trusting your inner wisdom, even as you take risks. Beautiful is throwing convention to the wind, and doing it your own way.

This week, I chopped off a bunch of my hair—I went for it, even though I knew it would be different than any style I've had before. And I love it! I feel sexy and unique and playful.


Beautiful is saying YES to opportunities that come your way.

This week I said YES to the chance to teach yoga at my home studio, Leap Yoga in Folsom. I’ll be sharing an hour of asana with my wonderful community and I am thrilled! My intention for the class is to humble myself, to be willing to be seen, and to have fun.


Beautiful is being dedicated to the soulful practices that allow you to love others.

This week, I’m spending time on my mat, meditating, reading, and remembering to take time for myself, even as I serve. In all I do, I seek peace and balance.

In this moment, I feel beautiful. And I think you’re beautiful too!

Teaching Yoga with a Humble Heart

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Photo by Cait Loper Photography.

Teaching yoga is a gift. I am so humbled by witnessing a student experience the practice.

That peaceful look at the end of class, it lights me up inside. Sometimes I’ll watch a yogi laying in savasana, no wrinkles in his forehead, the slightest hint of a smile at his lips, and it hits me: I’m doing what I am here to do. I am sharing what I am meant to share.

Yoga is such a gift. I can’t hold onto it. I can’t create it. Even my own practice: I must let go of it.

As I teach, I strive simply to offer myself in service, allowing myself to be seen, encouraging my students. I’m really not doing anything; I’m just helping students get out of their own way, and that’s where the shifts happen.

When we show up over and over again, we are bound to find success.

Practice and all is coming is how Sri K. Pattabhi Jois said it.

Dharma Mittra says, With constant practice comes success.

Thank you, students, for coming to your mat. Thank you, teachers who have gone before me. I bow humbly to you, in gratitude. I bow to the students whose paths will cross mine.


Namaste.

Radiant

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I feel joyful today. I spent last night dancing, and it was just what I needed... releasing what does not serve me, laughing, watching people let loose, smiling at the way we all feel the same happiness.

Today I had a reiki/massage session with my healer. I hula hooped in the park. I took a restful nap. And now I'm sitting at the patio of my favorite cafe, enjoying a coffee and sandwich and the way the sunlight feels.

Days like today, I feel radiant with gratitude.


As I walked in to order my coffee, I had this vision of myself sitting on a patio somewhere in Europe, listening to the sea as it moves, the sound of Spanish being spoken. I could picture what it would feel like to open my laptop among strangers, sitting down to do the same thing I'm doing now in a place that is unfamiliar and beautiful.

Walking cobblestone streets, in and out of cathedrals. Being barefoot on the hardwood floor of a new yoga studio, bowing namaste to a teacher whose accent makes me smile. Eating food I've never tried, giving hugs to people I've never met, gathering experiences I will never forget.

Life is beautiful, and precious. On days like today, I love all of it. May I continue to be a blessing to those I meet, and may I continue to travel freely, riding the breeze that is this human experience.

Namaste.

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!