Great News!

I am happy to announce that I'll be joining Emma Rossoff for the summer at Anahata Yoga. Come join me for OUTDOOR yoga starting July 6th. Emma, Sybil Nance and I will each be offering a slightly different flavour of yoga and we would ALL love to see you in class. Nothing better than getting OUTSIDE in the summer time.

This morning's class was awesome... just enough sunshine to warm us and just enough of a breeze to cool us as we practiced. We would love to see YOU next week.... info and schedule below. You can click on Anahata Yoga to get more info and the complete schedule.

Anahata Yoga – at Hood River's Waterfront Park

- Wednesdays – Fluid yoga- 9:30-10:45am – Water-like sun salutations followed by vinyasa flow to energize your body & focus your mind. 1 hr 15min


*** NOTE: drop-in $10/ class or purchase an 8X - $65. Please bring cash or check and come early to register and sign a one-time waiver.


Namaste... hope to see you under the blue skies soon.

New Movie: Yoga Is - A Film About The Transformational Power of Yoga

Yoga Is I just received a yoga newsletter about this movie and can hardly wait to see it! Below is exerpted from their website:

"Thirty million Americans and countless millions worldwide have taken up a practice that is transforming their lives. Follow filmmaker Suzanne Bryant as she meets with the most prominent Yoga Gurus and teachers in the west and travels to India to explore the power of this ancient practice. Along the way she discovers what YOGA IS.

This is the story of a woman who thought she had it all ...until she lost her beloved mother to cancer. Trying to process and understand her profound grief, Suzanne embarked on a journey and turned to a deeper practice of yoga.

Suzanne's journey led her to India on a spiritual quest to learn more about this powerful ancient practice. She studied yoga and Ayurveda in Kerala, Ashtanga Yoga with Pattabhis Jois and his daughter Saraswati, met with Guru Neem Karoli Baba’s son in Vrindavan to learn about Bhakti yoga and came face to face with a near death experience herself. While in India, something had shifted within her, the light had returned. "

Just watching the clip gave me shivers because I know this to be true... once the door is opened, it cannot be closed.

Let me know what you think...

Namaste

Sweet Summer...

Wow, I have taken quite the break from blogging. Life's been busy, with family and friends, work and play. And the weather seemed to take its sweet time to make the change from spring to summer. Some of the transitions I was talking about have happened like my daughter graduating from high school, dancing in her last dance recital. Family's been here which was AWESOME but tiring... the photo is of my momma and sister after they came to one of my yoga classes (LOVED that).

However sadness also came to our little community affecting many near and dear to us, reminding us to hug our children just a little tighter. That just seemed to zap that last little bit of whatever creative force I had in me.

Made me realize all the more how precious life is, each and every moment. Whether filled with smiles or sadness it is THERE for US. Grab it and GO. Grab it and LIVE.

And lately, I've been pensive and have just not felt like I have anything NEW to say. However, over the last days, I find my mind on overdrive again so perhaps it is time to, well... I can't say put pen to paper, but I'll put fingers to keyboard and type. :)

Just listening to Ladysmith Black Mambazo singing Homeless with Sarah McLachlan... LOVE it. I am in the mood to make some new yoga play-lists too.

So please stay tuned... don't forget about me. :) I've just been percolating, been marinating... been letting all the good stuff I read, watch, do and hear settle in and will have lots to say over the next while.

Namaste, may your days be filled with what makes you smile.

What I'm Reading Now: The Pragmatic Yogi - Do Not Shoulder the Burden!

Over the past little while I've been dealing with some shoulder pain... probably due to how I practice yoga when I teach. Looking over at students while in poses, jumping in and out of said poses to go over to a student and then showing modifications on the fly. Note to self: listen to myself a little more and move MINDFULLY from pose to pose. AND read the following blog postings another time!

I love yoga and that is what keeps me balanced in many areas of my life. I also love stand up paddling and that means I really need to have a strong upper body, especially shoulders. When we paddlie a lot and especially over long distances (like when I race) and when we are fatigued we rely on brute strength, on our joints to get us through. Last year I worked a lot on core strength and paddling from the core and not the shoulders and it really helped. But I do have the tendency to fall into old habits... ;)

Lisa, The Pragmatic Yogi refers to a couple of other blogs in this posting and I have read them (one is by a kayaker) and am making notes. Please do click on the posting and read, then let me know what you think.

The Pragmatic Yogi: Do Not Shoulder the Burden!: "Shoulder pain is a common occurrence yet can be complex in nature. It can be the result of injuries old or new, wear and tear of the glenoh..."

Happy Spring... let the sun shine!

What I'm Reading Now: The Daily Bandha: How to Balance Opposites in the Foot and Ankle

Hmmmm, somehow I lost my posting for this in cyber space?? And I really like what I had written. Guess this is a lesson on NON-attachment! ;)

SO what I really loved about this posting from The Daily Bandha is learning HOW to balance our various muscles in the foot and anke and how to be AWARE of this whole area. We spend so much time in our shoes that our feet lose that natural strength and connectedness with the ground beneath us. Yoga gives us the opportunity to reconnect.

(Image courtesy of The Damily Bandha)

Read the posting below and let me know what you think!

The Daily Bandha: How to Balance Opposites in the Foot and Ankle

Namaste

This is all I can say....

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."

- Martin Luther King Jr.

What I'm Reading NOW: 11 Qualities of the Ultimate Yoga Instructor

Took a little break from blogging... it is hard work to keep on keeping on. There are so many awesome things out there to read and absorb and filter on down to my blog and classes and workshops. Some days I am just overwhelmed. But in a good way. I read this posting and it rings very true to me. I believe there are many amazing instructors and mentors out there and have often pondered about what makes one suited to teach, let alone be an awesome teacher. The most important one, to me is: Be TRUE to yourself, your nature. When you teach and guide from a place of truth and authenticity I believe that you convey what you would like to. Another important quality is humility. And kindness. To oneself and one's students. And a curiosity, and desire to delve deeper into yoga and how it affects us truly in all aspects of our lives.... but I think you should read the posting that I read on MindBodyGreen:

11 Qualities of the Ultimate Yoga Instructor

And do let me know what you think... I LIKE feedback... Really and Truly!

Happy April, sunshine-y day.