When I look at this action shot from Quick Core Fusion, my first reaction is, “No strain.” You can tell that Krystal, Amy and I are flowing. There’s a lot to be said about flow. Flow makes effort feel better. (Huh? How does effort feel better? And what exactly is flow?) Flow is a way of moving the body where there is ease and effort simultaneously. It’s not all yang, and it’s not all yin…it’s a bit of both. Flow has five...
Deep thought of the day: your workout should make you feel good about yourself. It should make you be proud of your efforts, grateful for your body, and inspired to live a high vibe life. End of story. For most of us, our workout is optional. It’s a choice we make. In fact, we often jump though hoops – from hiring a babysitter and navigating traffic to buying the right gear and waking up an hour or two...
Mudra is a Sanskrit word meaning “gesture.” The most common mudras arehand gestures. Doing the peace sign is a mudra. Waving the hang loose symbol is a mudra. Giving the middle finger is a mudra. You and I have been “mudra-ing” our whole lives without even realizing it. Our hands are extensions of our hearts and a reflection of our mental state, so by placing our hands in intentional ways, we potentially direct attentions and energies in...
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,the courage to change the things I canand the wisdom to know the difference.” Somewhere, somehow, I bet you’ve heard the opening line of the “Serenity Prayer” which is written above. Apparently, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous started incorporating into into his program is 1941, and it goes even further back than that. I love it. I love everything about it. I saw this...
There’s a lot we can accomplish when we are sitting on our mats. We could do a pre-movement chat, have a meditation or intention setting session, or do a breathing exercise. I also think the act of sitting on our mat could be part of the warm-up, where we ground and settle our bodies, and get situated with where we are in space and time. Simple stuff, right? But these simply things aren’t benign. They can really...
This 30minute workout is a true yoga workout, where you’ll thoroughly engage all the muscles of the body, but do so in a calm, unhurried fashion. Most everybody I meet today, is seeking some sort of stress relief, and I think this workout really helps with that, but at the same time, your muscles will feel this. Remember, your workout doesn’t have to only be about physical health, it can also help with mental health. Lots and...
Years ago in Montana while driving on a dirt road, my husband and I met a moose. It came out of a wooded area to our right, sauntered across our path, and disappeared into the wilderness to our left. Our car came to a full stop and we just stared and took it in. I’ll never forget that moose. He was strong and calm and elegant (and huge!). He didn’t panic at the sight of us...
There are two things I really scratch my head over. One is crazy impractical foot wear. I don’t see it as much in real life anymore (thankfully) but every once in a while I spy a stiletto at the supermarket on an icy winter day, and inwardly feel pain. The second one actually is very common these days, and that’s extreme nails. Just the other day at a clothing store, the store clerk waved around...
Do you remember who you were at age seven? I was a little kid that roller skated in my basement, took walks in the woods with my dog, Lucy, pogo-stick raced with my brother, and did endless loops around the neighborhood on my bike. I was an enthusiastic mover, and I bet to some extent you were too. Of course, as adults, we’ve been on the other side of this, at times – where we...
I really do love getting to studio spaces early – way before class starts – and settling in. A big open clutter-free sacred space is my jam. Natural light and soothing colors are like icing on the cake. It feels like a calm church. My body softens and my breath deepens, and if I was a bit fatigued or frazzled upon entering the space, now I’m refreshed and ready to flow. For many years, I taught in...
