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

Today was a great day.  My partner and I made a healthy lunch together with food we got from the farmers market and spent the rest of the day sitting outside enjoying the weather.  We had a conversation that made me feel extremely happy about our favorite places we have practiced yoga around the states.  I never thought about how many places we have been fortunate to practice at.

Here is our list of places we have been and two that we are planning to go to.

Hopefully, these make you want to take your yoga to the next level and travel with yoga.

• Grace Cathedral in San Francisco is one of the best places I have practiced yoga at.  The spiritual environment of the French Gothic-style cathedral is second to none.  There are weekly yoga classes offered as well as a 75-minute class on Tuesday nights.  It was a little chilly there so I suggest wearing layers and of course, don’t forget your mat.

• After my paddleboard yoga experience I am eager to go back to the Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.  You can do yoga with the dolphins swimming around you, obviously through the window.  You practice in the underwater viewing area at the Dolphin Habitat.  It was fun having these playful animals swimming around, although it was a little distracting.

• Traveling to Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies was one of the highlights in outdoor yoga practices.  You can sign up to get transported to a remote place in the Rockies to practice and really connect in solitude with nature.  The wild landscape and serenity made this one of my favorite experiences.

• The natural attitude of Hawaii makes it one of the most relaxing and peaceful places in the US and makes it a perfect place to practice yoga.  When my partner and I were there we did our own practice on our private beach.  The sun rising and hitting the water at dawn was an unforgettable time.

• A few years ago I traveled to New York and found free yoga classes in Bryant Park.  It was great to get away and spend time with a group of people with my same passion.  They also offer free tai chi lessons that I stuck around for after.

• I haven’t been to Chicago but it is definitely on my list.  One of my good friends used to live there and said there were free yoga classes on Saturday s in Millennium Park.  Although I love practicing in nature, it is a different feeling being so small amongst the giant sky scrapers that makes your problems disappear.

• Another place on my list is to go to Alaska and practice in the natural beauty.  I have read reviews about the Tutka Bay Lodge on Kachemak Bay that make me want to plan my next trip there.  The photographs of the rough wilderness and peacefulness of the water are breathtaking.


What is your favorite place to practice yoga?

Namaste

This morning after our morning yoga practice, one of my students approached me because she was feeling a little ill.  She was wondering if it was because she had eaten a pretty large breakfast before.

She didn’t want to be hungry so she thought it would be good to make a traditional breakfast with eggs and toast and turkey sausage.  Eating before yoga or any exercise in the morning is needed but all depends on how much time you have.

Some sort of breakfast is necessary before any kind of activity in the morning.  When you are doing physical activities your body needs some sort of fuel to proper work itself out.  How long you have before a work out is the deciding factor for what is best for you.



If you eat one or two hours before I think a small meal with slow-digesting carbohydrates for the lasting energy throughout your activities, some lean protein and healthy fats will keep you satisfied and your muscles happy.  If I have time I like to make about ¼ cup cooked oats with walnuts and a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt.  It is very filling and gives you energy through your workout and for a while after.

We all know, getting up early can be hard and pressing snooze button one too many times on the alarm clock doesn’t give you much time to make breakfast or digest.  So if you only have 15 minutes before you need to get to a class or the gym I reach for an easy snack with natural sugars and a little fat and protein like a simple smoothie or a loaded granola bar.

It is so important to keep your body nourished especially in the mornings if you are going to be doing physical activities.  Everybody’s body reacts different to food and the speed of digestion varies, so listen to your body. If something doesn’t sit right or takes longer to digest try other meals or snacks.

Your body knows what is best and will tell you if what you’re eating is not the best or nourishing.

Follow your body’s ques.

Namaste.

Anita Myers

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