Today the studio was exceptionally warm and my poor students were sweating away.  The sun was beating in through all the windows creating such wonderful natural light but, it was also baking us in the room.  I was so proud of my students, none of them complained and continued to stay focused on their practice. 



After class, we managed to have quite a few laughs though.  We joked about how our mats became “slip and slides” and that our sweat was dripping in places it usually does not.  We ended up going to get tea and continue joking about “yogi problems.”  It was fun to laugh with them and see how much they really love yoga.

There was no way I wasn’t going to share our “yogi problems” with you.  For you yoga lovers out there, I am sure you can relate to the majority of them.

• Dripping so much sweat during a power yoga or hot class that your mat turns into a slip and slide
• Trying to do crow pose the first time and falling on your face
• Being so sweaty when the instructor, me, comes to adjust you, I leave with wet hands
• Running late to class, getting there and having nowhere to put your mat
• Falling asleep during savasana, I used to do this all the time
• Nothing to be ashamed of but, shaking during Ardha Chandrasana
• Not remembering the Sanskrit names for the asanas
• How distracting it is when the person practicing next to you has awful BO
• The exciting feeling when you master handstands away from the wall
• The pain after focusing on hip openers during a practice
• Always having to remind yourself to square your hips during warrior one
• Having to carry your mat the rest of the day after a morning practice
• Being in downward facing dog and getting a foot cramp
• And the best yogi problem I heard, wanting to do yoga at all times of the day because it is truly a blessing.

My students are so focused and solemn during the practice, I often forget that they are such entertaining and fun loving people.  Being able to listen to their “yogi problems” made me laugh and remember how light-hearted and funny I used to be when first starting yoga.

I am sure you have your own “yogi problems” and I would love to hear them.  Happy practicing!

Namaste.

Anita

When new students come to my yoga class they usually comment on the subtle scent of my lobby area.

I use aromatherapy to set the mood and energy through oil extracted from plants. 

I see students and other friends and families mood change when I have my oils out.  The sense of smell connects with the part of your brain that controls emotion, making it a great way to set the energy and aura of the room.

Oils and incense have been used for centuries in spiritual traditions like yoga.  Frankincense, myrrh, and sandalwood were used to elevate the mood for devotional practices and meditation.  I find that using similar oils help me and my students engage mind, body, and spirit.

Here are a few incense I use that can lift moods and make other emotions apparent.

To focus and center use-

• Frankincense
• Lavender
• Petitgrain
• Rosemary

To energize-

• Grapefruit
• Lemon
• Peppermint
• Pine

To soothe and relax-

• Cedar
• Orange
• Rose
• Sandalwood

I use incense in my home to help my partner and me unwind from a busy day or just help relax.  It helps connect with ourselves and with each other.  I also believe it encourages emotional release by calming our nervous system.  We often feel more tranquil and peacefulness when we are burning incense.

I believe that incense and oils have a healing effect on humans.  It is a peaceful act that allows your senses to engage deeper within your practice and your spirituality.  Incense transport me into a more profound spirituality.  I am able to come closer to finding peace and harmony from within.

Essential oils can inspire your practice and set the tone for your day.  I encourage you to try using incense or oils in your home for mood and energy setting.

Namaste.

This morning I was invited to a friend’s studio for an acroyoga practice.  I had done acroyoga a few times before but it had been quite some time since I practiced.  I am not going to lie, I was a little nervous going this morning.  I forgot how much trust you have to put into a stranger that they won’t drop you on your head.  5 minutes into the practice and my nerves had subsided and I was really having fun.  AcroYoga is a fun, creative, and self-building practice.



In case you are not sure what acroyoga is, here is the 411.  AcroYoga is a partner yoga with a “base” and a “flyer” to execute a series of aerial postures.  It creates a therapeutic release from the combination of acrobatics and yoga.  It is essential to have good alignment and posture so that no body falls and gets hurt.  There are a few established poses in acroyoga but many classes encourage improvisation and free acrobatic play.  Simply put, it is a practice that combines yoga and acrobatics to create therapeutic postures and stretches.

I remember a while ago when I tried it my first time…I did not love it.  After a few classes and different partners it started to grow on me.  The class really depends on your partner and how well your bodies and minds can click.  This morning my partner was wonderful.  He had been doing acroyoga for many years and made me feel really comfortable while I was in the air.

AcroYoga is not very relaxing to me, but I still enjoy it.  The use of gravity and inversions is very therapeutic and used an entirely different set of muscles than a mainstream yoga practice.  It is a good change in pace from solo yoga sessions and meditation.  It creates a personal connection between the partners that has to have trust and solidarity almost instantly after starting.


If you are thinking about trying acroyoga, here are something’s you should know about the practice.
•    You do not need a partner when you attend classes, you find them there.
•    Acroyoga is for everyone, you don’t have to be a gymnast, acrobat, or yoga pro.
•    Size does not matter.  Don’t be self-conscious and let acroyoga take you on a gravitational journey.
•    Taking turns and talking is the best way to get what you want out of the practice
•    Build trust and communication quickly and you won’t have any problems having a great acroyoga class.





I say, give acroyoga a try, what do you have to lose?

Namaste,

Anita

Yesterday I held my once a month yoga class for children.  It always brings me so much joy seeing mini yogi’s working to master some poses.  I truly believe that yoga is great for every one of all ages, sizes, or backgrounds.  It is about exploring and learning about yourself and feeling comfortable in your body. 

Children are no different from adults and can learn so much from yoga.  Here are some benefits from children receive from practicing yoga.

•    Yoga is able to teach us about our bodies in a very unique and great way.  When exercising it is easy to learn how to move freely with ease and awareness of our bodies.  Learning about our body is good for kids and adults of all ages.
•    One huge aspect of yoga is breathing and learning to relax, children can benefit immensely from this.  Learning how to breathe and relax at a young age helps children in the long run.  We bring peacefulness and energy to our bodies from breathing.
•    Yoga teaches how to quite the mind and be still.  Learning this skill as a child can lead to making better decisions and staying focused.  In stressful times, quieting the mind is essential in relaxation and decision making.
•    Leaning that we are the boss of our own bodies provides us with the power to know what our bodies can and can’t handle.  In yoga we listen to our bodies and modify or change poses to better suit specific body needs.
•    The most important thing children of all ages can learn from yoga is to take care of our bodies, minds, and spirits.  The physicality of yoga promotes a healthy lifestyle that can stay with children throughout their lives.

Besides all the wonderful things these children are getting out of the yoga class, they have taught me things I would not have learned without their help.  The little things really mean the most, and being with them allows me to realize that on a deeper level.  Children do what feels right for them without judgment. 

Here are some simple life lessons I am so grateful I learned from kids in yoga.

•    It is okay to color outside of lines- meaning to be yourself and not fitting the mold
•    Laugh out loud
•    Ask as many questions as you need to learn
•    Anything is possible, dream big
•    Live in the moment
•    Sharing is caring
•    Sing and hold hands
•    Show affection when you love something
•    Make time for “play time”
•    And smile, it makes others happy

Whenever I get the chance to work with children I look at it as instilling values that can carry with them forever.  I like hearing from the kids that they like to do yoga with their friends at recess or that they do it alone when they get mad.  Yoga has the power to guide young souls in the right direction of the world.

Namaste.



Anita

I have written about fun facts of yoga many times before, but today my friend and student got me thinking about some facts that are not so widely known.  She has been practicing yoga with me for almost 2 years and is one of my good friends now.  We were chatting after class about the yoga certification course because she is thinking about getting certified.  She really had done her research about yoga and made me dig in the back of memory to everything I have learned.


After I got home I thought it would be good to share the fun facts of yoga you probably haven’t heard of, so here you go.

1. There are 19 different types of yoga, hatha is the most common practice in the US.  Hatha focuses on breathing, postures, and meditation. 
2. Yoga has been around for 5,000 years but because it was passed on orally from generation to generation, many researchers believe it has been around for more than 10,000 years. 
3. There are 4 periods in the history of yoga.  Pre-classical, classical, post-classical, and modern yoga.  Throughout these periods traditions have been passed on and new types of yoga formed to better suit the times, but always keeping the traditions. 

OM

4. The yoga eight-fold path to a better life is described in The Yoga Sutra.  The yama, niyana, asana, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi, or Patanjali’s eight-fold path is described thoroughly in The Yoga Sutra
5. The language of yoga is Sanskrit, it is also the oldest literally language of India. 
6. A yoga practice will never be exacting the same.  Intensions, thoughts, feelings, auras, and your environment is constantly changing creating a new practice every time.
7. The number of yoga poses has always been disputed.  The Complete illustrated Book of Yoga describes and outlines 66 official poses and 136 different modifications and variations.  Over time many yogis have suggested the possibility of more poses and postures, with countless variations.

There are so many more fun facts that are so widely known, but I cant think of them right now.  Yoga has so much history and variation that it is constant journey of discovery, learning, and growing.

Yoga has endless opportunities for spiritual, mental, and physical growth.

Namaste.

Anita