Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga is a softer more poetic side of Yoga. A perfect compliment to the yang styles most of us practice, this beautiful and quieter form renders joint pliability and inner calm. I was lucky enough to discover this ancient Taoist form of Yoga about 10 yrs ago thru my dear friend and 1st teacher: Paul Grilley. From the 1st practice, it felt right. Sitting in simple floor poses for 3-5 minutes was heaven for my yin-like constitution and such a relief from the demands of my yang addictions. Not necessarily easy to do as 5 minutes in a seated forward bend can make you feel like you are about to break in half, but truly nourishing to the joints, connective tissues and something more -- the meridian/energy pathways throughout the body.

Yin Yoga is based upon Meridian energy theory - an ancient Chinese medical system upon which Acupuncture is based. Sitting in long held poses you can actually feel pent up energy release and begin to travel through the tributaries of the body. I love this practice. It has done so much for slowing down my vata (hyper) constitution and moistening my aging insides. They say Yin Yoga has become an anti-aging practice as it renders your inner body to become more fluid and subtle. This has been my experience and certainly is what keeps me coming back to my mat.

Beyond the physical however, Yin Yo brings forth a contemplative - spiritual aspect to mind. When you are guided to be still for long periods of time, there is time to ponder life's big questions, to dwell on thoughts of "how am I" and "what the heck is my life about anyway". Doing Yin is a precious time to introspect which I have come to discover is very healthy for my mind and spirit.

Try it:-)

Out on a Limb

If we want to grow in our lives, we have to be willing to "go out on a limb" on a regular basis. This act alone stirs up old patterns of resistance and self doubt. It is a bit like going to the gym, or setting out the yoga mat and doing a challenging flow series -- strengthening sleepy muscles groups. When we do this, we have such an opportunity to break out of limiting beliefs about ourselves, and discover a whole new world waiting for our creativity and intelligence. And, sometimes, "going out of a limb" brings up intense vulnerbility and exposure. What if, what if, what if someone finds out I'm not perfect, or I'm sensitive or, or, or.... Ahhhhhhhh, if we could all just realize we are one heart beating to the universal drum of life.

On some leve,l we are all a little intimidated about being "seen". About being something other than what our ego mind wishes the world to know about us. When we put ourselves out into the world, we cannot always be perfect in the eyes of everyone. We become available to the negative energies that exist. How to manage these rough waters?

Be in the moment! One breath, one thought, one reality. Realizing there are a multitude of people, places and things to dwell upon, and in any given moment, we reach for the highest vibration, the highest thought pattern, and the thing that brings joy the most!

Ground Hog Day

Some days are truly about growth and personal transformation. It might seem like a normal Monday. Kids off to school, spouse to work, laundry in process, dog eating breakfast, and Facebook messages popping up like mosequitos, but there is this resistance to something percolating in the back of mind. I always know when I'm about to expand my consciousness as there is this subtle resistance to change that shows up. Like a "I don't want to, I'd rather stay the same, and not have to stretch today". Like "I am comfortable here and isn't it healthy to be comfortable?". Such reasoning compulsively haunts me. On days like today, I know need to ground my energy, like take a walk in the forest, or go on a good hike thru the hills. My Yoga moves "off the mat" and into nature... nature of the mind and outdoors to process the ramblings of the monkey mind. To explore resistance to change, growth and of course, fear. Doesn't it always come down to fear and love?

Life in the Fast Lane w/ Focus & Calm

So -- Is it okay to race through the day at warp speed and still remain calm and focused. Sort of like being in Ardha Chandrasana - one legged side warrior - and knowing the next pose is coming but for this second balance and concentration is called forth. As long as we are loving doing the pose, which I absolutely do, and accept its inherent challenges and benefits -- it is so natural and normal to be hyper focused one sec and future tripping the next. After all, the next moment will bring the next experience/pose and so life goes on. Am I justifying how busy life has become lately. Heck No -- just living the Warrior life in Silicon Valley juggling the tasks as yogi, friend, mum, wife and lover. Just life with awareness and choice. Always looking for the highest thought, right action and peace of mind!

Yoga & The Art of Living

It occurred to me several years back that my yoga practice had so much more to do with what I did off the mat than on. This intensified my practice big time and made it all the more powerful and engaging. How to make every action, reaction, conversation and encounter a yoga pose. How to breath thru life even when it got intense I all I wanted to do was scream. How to stop and enjoy the beauty of my young daughter playing with our sweet little hamster. How to cook a pot roast and relish in the aroma filling my kitchen. Yes -- yoga off the mat began to follow my delightful addiction to Yoga on the mat. My passion for life was no longer for a few hours at my yoga studio. What a concept:-)

The challenge tho was how to always see life from this perspective! Boy, when life gets intense or I get one of my daughter's 1st grade germ brews -- whew -- I go back to wanting to scream at God or somebody about about my suffering. And, then -- there comes the breath, and the sunshine, and of course, cherry popsickles. Life is funny and certainly an art form that I will work on until my last moment of breath.