Yoga Nuggets

Finding a yoga class that is in sync with what you seek can be a challenge. There are a plethora of yoga studios to try out and an even larger group of yoga teachers. One can do a personal practice at home; however, sweet blend of energy shared in a collectively united group practice. As a teacher of yoga for only four years, here are the top five elements of a fulfilling practice. I Action #1 : Teach and practice from the heart. If the energy is feeling low, the moves offered should be designed to lift it up...physically and mentally. Synchronicity of energies consistently coincide with a collective group and it is truly beautiful to share it. To teach what you think what a group wants takes out the secret ingredient of the heart. The heart doesn't have to think...it feels. Thinking complicates. Feeling completes . Action #2 : Teach familiar poses with new twists to them. Familiarity breeds monotony. Maintaining a blend of staples in your practice along with new poses i...

The longer you practice yoga, the more you discover. If you let the imagination and heart lead your practice, the physical moves become the visible force. It is the unseen forces that really make a difference. We cannot see the frequency that makes the internet possible, but it is real. We cannot hear sounds that certain animals can because our ears are not geared for that frequency, but it is real. We are part of the Milky Way , which is 150,000 light years across....and though we cannot see it, we know it is real. We are all energy comprised in an intricate anatomical design that we can see; however, the energy that ignites the life within is what moves us. In yoga, energy is referred to as prana. In Chinese, it is called qi, or chi . If you have watched Star Wars, "may the Force be with you" is destined to have more meaning after you read this article. Energy of life has been called many things; however, the gist of it has remained consistent. Your energy interconnects ...

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” ~Einstein Gandhi shared inspiration with the words, "be the change you wish to see." However, before you can be the change, you need to think first.  For goals, dreams or changes to happen, you've got to have a plan of desired results. Or, better yet, a guideline outlined in pencil vs. ink for unexpected modifications. Most of of us learn that things do not go exactly as planned. But, if you allow yourself to be open and receptive to the unplanned, you have an opportunity to learn how to change your thinking. The mind can wreak havoc if you let it. If you are aware of your mental "heavy traffic", "missed turns", and relentless "red lights" that hold you back, you can re-shape the mind like you re-shape the body with effort. The mind is a tough composition of three pounds to exercise. The average person is estimated to have ...

Inversions are an integral component of not only a good yoga practice, but good health. As kids, we used to hang upside down from the jungle gym like monkeys, do somersaults, or swing as high as possible gripping the swing's chain and leaning back to get the feel of flying. Little did we know it, but our bodies were getting some great internal benefits. Besides being fun and giving a sense of daring to play to edges, we were giving our endocrine system a chance to share its magic. Use your yoga practice to re-ignite the smiles you had just being a kid. And, for goodness sakes, do not let the ingrained thought "I'm too old to do this..." deter you from doing what can make you happy at any age. First of all, there are medical contraindications for inversions. It depends on the style of inversion and the physical ailment. (When in doubt, leave it out...until you discuss it with your doctor.)  The body's glands, or endocrine system, produce approximately 50 hormone...

Have a great yoga practice, full of energy, twists, new edges and surrendering to those precious moments of Shavasana (corpse pose) is delicious. The breath returns to normal, the heart slows down and a lot of things beyond the physical start to let go. If you let yourself drift in between the delicate balance of physical to non-physical awareness, you get a glimpse of the horizon that exists within you and beyond. All fears, doubts, anger, and any other slew of nagging emotions can recede out of mental awareness. Peace, love, serenity and stillness settle if you let Nature take its course. Slowly, you're guided out of your shavasana and brought back to the physical world and get on with your day. The good dose of dopamine and new synaptic connections of positive thoughts help ingrain your practice in you to the cellular level. Do you fear the REAL Shavasana? Meaning...you lie down and physically surrender for good. No touching of fingertips, no deep inhale, no reactivation of...

"How long will it take before I can get more flexible?" is probably the most common question asked by most upcoming or new yogis. This is like asking the classic Tootsie Roll lollipop question of "how many licks will it take to get to the center?" There is no true answer. It depends on the person experiencing it. With the Tootsie Roll, you can take your time and relish the flavor drop by drop until that chewy center reveals itself. Or, you can take a few quick rolls of the lollipop in the mouth until you crunch down to the core and enjoy it for a few brief moments. Which sounds more gratifying? The same approach is with yoga. Forget about time. Forget about the agenda of poses to be able to do by a  self-imposed deadline. Forget about flexibility. It sounds strange and conflicting to the task motivated mind. What is more amazing is that the moment you stop worrying about what you think you should be doing, you will discover the bliss of enjoying what you ARE do...

Ever wonder what would happen if all the greatest minds, hearts and spirits of the past lived right now? Imagine. Jesus, Buddha, Confucious, Einstein, Helen Keller, Swami Vivekananda, Aristotle, Martin Luther King, Jr., Leonardo Da Vinci and whoever else you can think of lived now. All with distinct gifts and purposes. All driven by their gifts...driven by their desire to make a difference in the world until the day they died. Driven by their recognition that they are one among many....not THE one of all. We currently do have many people who do what they can to make a difference. Oprah, Dr. Frank Lipman, the Dalai Lama, Dr. Bruce Lipton, Dr. Wayne Dyer, Gregg Braden, and many more. The list is long for it does not even scratch the surface of those who make a difference incognito. I haven't even mentioned the profound musicians of history that created music that can make your heart weep and smile...all in one song. Or, the writers of books or classic movies that have a message tha...