The Marine Corps meets the Yogini

This morning, I had the great opportunity to teach a yoga class to some active-duty Marines at our local Reserve Center.  I was so nervous!  My husband was a Marine, so I have a tiny understanding of their history & culture.  Also, they really thought it was neat that I'm married to a former Marine.
So, today, it was 13 big, strong guys and one little 'ole me.  But I put 'em through the paces.  We did several sun salutations, a warrior series, a backbend, and even some inversions.
Through it all, they grunted, moaned and laughed.  Their great attitude made it fun, and pretty soon, I wasn't so nervous anymore.  One guy was there, taking pictures, which I hope to recieve copies of soon.
My favorite part was sivasana.  They weren't sure I was serious when I told them to lie down & cover up with the blanket.  But once down, the strong warriors relaxed and focused on their breath.
Thanks, guys.  It was an honor.

What does it mean to 'ground'?

Often, in class, you'll hear an instructor talk about taking a moment "to ground", or describing a pose as "grounding".  Grounding is an energetic term, referring to the feeling of being connected to the earth.  As humans, we connect energetically to the earth, with a downward pull, and to the heavens, with an upward pull.  If either of these is out of balance, we can have trouble concentrating, focusing, or even trouble being creative.  When we spend too much time thinking, worrying, or planning, we need to balance that energy with 'grounding'.

Here's a simple exercise to help you get your feet back on the ground:

Sit or stand with both bare feet on the floor or your mat.

Take a few deep breaths, bringing your attention away from outside interferences, and into your body.

Using the sensory nerves in your feet, notice how the floor feels beneath you.

Is it cool? warm? firm? soft? sticky?

Next, invite your attention to your feet themselves. 

Can you feel the skin on your feet?  What sensations arise?

Sit with these feelings for 10-15 breaths, or as long as you need to feel connected and grounded again.

Use this grounding technique anytime you need to come back down, out of your head!

40 Ways Yoga Heals

Exerpted from Yoga as Medicine:The Yogic Prescription for Health and Healing by Timothy McCall, M.D.
1-Increases flexibility
2-Strengthens muscles
3-Improves balance
4-Improves immune function
5-Improves posture
6-Improves lung function
7-Leads to slower and deeper breathing
8-Discourages mouth breathing
9-Increases oxygenation of tissues
10-Improves joint health
11-Nourishes intervertebral disks
12-Improves return of venous blood
13-Increases circulation of lymph
14-Improves function of the feet
15-Improves proprioception
16-Increases control of bodily functions
17-Strengthens bones
18-Conditions the cardiovascular system
19-Promotes weight loss
20-Relaxes the nervous system
21-Improves the function of the nervous system
22-Improves brain function
23-Activates the left prefrontal cortex
24-Changes neurotransmitter levels
25-Lowers levels of the stress hormone, cortisol
26-Lowers blood sugar
27-Lowers blood pressure
28-Improves levels of cholesterol and triglycerides
29-Thins the blood
30-Improves bowel function
31-Releases unconscious muscular gripping
32-Uses imagery to effect change in the body
33-Relieves pain
34-Lowers need for medication
35-Fosters healing relationships
36-Improves psychological health
37-Leads to healthier habits
38-Fosters spiritual growth
39-Elicits the placebo effect
40-Encourages involvement in your own healing

Kundalini Detox workshop

Last Saturday, January 7th, Sierra Hollister joined us from Asheville to teach a Kundalini Detox and Vitality workshop.  If you missed this workshop, you missed a real treat.  A true Detox class, this class moved all parts of the body, focusing on the lymph system.  Kundalini is a repetitive, breath-focused style of yoga, and we did many repetitions of some VERY cleansing movements.  We had 24 students in class, and the feedback has been wonderful.  Sierra is such a loving and kind instructor.  Her style was fun and energetic.   We can't wait to have Sierra join us again.  For more info about Sierra and her classes, check out her blog:  http://www.dragonflysamadhi.blogspot.com/

Life without TV

About 6 months ago, Scott & I finally decided to remove the television from our home.  We had been tossing around the idea for quite some time, but kept coming up with excuses.  "But what about FOOTBALL?" was probably the most compelling one.  But July 4th, we declared our independence from "the tube".  We'd had enough.  We actually took the set to the studio, and rearranged furniture to cover the gaping hole it seemed to leave.
At first, it was SO QUIET all the time, and even seemed a little lonely.  But now, I see that silence as such a blessing.  My life is so calm and peaceful.
Some of the other amazing blessings from our tv-free life:
-We communicate so much better.  There are few distractions, so we talk more often.  We're also more present when we communicate.  We're actually THERE for the conversation, not wandering off to whatever's on.
-We spend more time with family.  This is a solution to the football question earlier.  All of our parents live in town, and they are happy to see us when football is on.  We also watch with friends.  Someone always has the game on.
-We read all the time.  Scott has read more books than I think I've ever seen him read.  And I seem to be devouring books.  I always have one fiction and one non-fiction book going.  I'm getting around to all those yoga teacher training books I wanted to read, but never seemed to have time.
-Only good things come to our home.  As someone once said, tv is inviting people into your home, who you would never invite if they were actually standing there.  We have no foul language, no obnoxiousness, and no commercialism.
I could go on and on about how wonderful my life is.  And getting rid of TV has only helped.  I'm not saying this is for everyone, but see what happens if you get rid of it for a week.  Open up your time and your life, and see what else is waiting for you.

Bags of Blessings for the Homeless

Many of you know that Dave Ramsey is one of my heroes.  Here, he shares the story of an awesome family that is teaching their children to GIVE.  Check it out.  I'm making some for my car TODAY!

http://www.daveramsey.com/specials/christmas-articles/article/blessing-bags-for-the-homeless/ictid/text1.c11/

Cleaning Your Mat

About once a week, someone asks me how to wash their yoga mat, so here's a quick run-down.

Before we begin, please note that this is just for a regular yoga mat.  Specialty mats, such as Manduka, Lululemon, etc have specific instructions from the manufacturer that should be followed.
But if you have a regular mat, you can pretty much follow this procedure:

1-Washing the mat
If your washing machine is large enough to accomodate your mat without folding & squishing, this is the easiest way.  Just use a gentle cycle with a VERY little bit of soap.  Otherwise, it will be hard to get all the soap out.
If your washing machine, like mine, is too small, you'll need to wash your mat in the bathtub.  Just run 3-4 inches of warm water.  Place your mat in and add a small amount of your favorite cleanser.  I use Young Living's Thieves Household Cleaner, which you can order online, or buy here at the studio.  Then scrub your mat gently with a brush.  Finally, rinse your mat well.  I usually take mine outside & spray it well with the garden hose.

2-Drying the mat
On a warm, dry, sunny day, the best thing to do is hang your mat up outside somewhere.  If that won't work, you can actually dry your mat on the air-only cycle a couple of times.  Then, hang it over a shower curtain rod overnight.

This should help restore some of the stickiness to your mat, and get rid of all those foot germs!