Eka Pada Koundinyasana. It’s one of those poses that you see on the cover of yoga journal, performed by someone smiling peacefully (and seemingly in no state of stress or panic) that makes you go, “Huh? Riiiiiiiiiight.” As my boyfriend said with alarm upon seeing this picture to the left, “Jesus! That is not good!” […]
Remembering How to See
Last Thursday evening, I attended a talk by Reginald Ray, founder of Dharma Ocean and tantric buddhist practitioner. He spoke about the intimacy and the power (and terror) of really Seeing another person. What is Seeing? It’s when we strip away the filters through which we most often see the world and take the time […]
The problems with resolutions
So it’s New Years. So you made a resolution. What is it this year? I’ll share my typical checklist: -lose five pounds -go to yoga EVERY DAY -finish writing book -resolve all unresolved psychological issues -do something really important that will make everyone love me Hmmmmm. Lofty, anyone? Resolutions are excellent. They invite us to […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 9: Farting
Alan had taken to telling our friends a story about how I have farted myself awake. Deeeelightful. Yes, the flatulence had continued. Robust and tangy, my flatulence knew no end. I suppose since he had to cope with the Dutch oven after effects of my vegan diet, he was entitled to reap some momentary joy […]
Yoga For Stiff Old Guys – 20 minutes
Are you a stiff old guy? You know, tight hamstrings, tight lower back? You like lifting weights but now you can’t touch your toes? Never fear, Yoga For Old Stiff Guys can help. All you need is a wall. Great for younger guys on their way to becoming stiff oldies. Take twenty minutes and start […]
Yoga For Waking Up – 10 minutes
Start your day on the right foot. Here’s ten minutes to work out the kinks, focus your mind, and make your body happy. If you’re a grouch in the AM, take ten minutes to reset your mood. Great as an afternoon pick-me-up, too. Your co-workers will thank you. Yoga for Waking Up with music. If […]
Work Break – five minutes
Take Five! Just five minutes can go a long ways to undoing the repetitive stress of your desk job. Open your shoulders, protect your wrists, take a couple breath, and stop the slouching. Do five, feel better. Includes some sassy music. Take Five with music. If you like your work break straight up, Take Five […]
Yoga for Grandmas – 10 minutes
Here’s 11 minutes of yoga for your favorite grandma. With or without some grandma friendly music in the background. The entire series is seated in a chair, so the practitioner can rest easy knowing that she will remain stable. Easy movements and attention to the breath will help keep joints mobile, the breath strong, and […]
Yoga Wind Down – 20 minutes
For the end of your day. For the purist, there’s no background music. Here’s a twenty-minute wind down to chill you out. You need a yoga mat or a towel, a place to lay down, and a strap. Your strap could be a belt or a tie. Dim the lights, close the door, and relax. […]
Sankalpa – a New Year’s Meditation
This meditation comes by way of Rachel Zinman, a stunning ISHTA teacher in Australia. My favorite teacher and Mentor Alan Finger always recommends the Sankalpa Meditation as a great way to start the New Year. He says that a Sankalpa- setting an intention for your self is different to a New Years resolution. A resolution […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 8: Eating out
If you’re going to eat out vegan, consider Greek. Everything was bathed in olive oil, fresh foods, roasted potatoes…if you could avoid the feta and the fish, you’d be in a vegan-approved land of culinary delight. I got the hummus with pita, roasted lemon potatoes without the feta, the gigantes (giant lima beans), the roasted […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 6 :The Airport
Today’s adventure: Finding Vegan food in the Airport. I trolled one end of Chicago O’Hare’s Terminal B to the other. If you’ve never been to O’Hare, I have to say that it’s a stellar place for a layover. Lots of interesting shops and eateries, as well as a Brookstone where you can try out their […]
Getting Quiet in Practice: Halasana
During the holidays, it’s more important than ever to have some quiet time. With all of the distractions – parties, relatives, drama, presents, planning, joy, baggage – it’s easy to get swept away on a holiday rollercoaster! This week’s pose is halasana (plow). By turning ourselves upside down and folding over, we are literally looking […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 5 – Protein?
Two revelations. One: my chocolate fears were ungrounded. While I could not have milk chocolate, I could still have dark chocolate, as it contains neither milk nor butter. However, my chocolate covered espresso beans were out, as they contained cream (always have to read the ingredients). Two: It was day two of my vegan lifestyle, […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 4: Chocolate
Something terrible occurred to me today. Chocolate. As I was munching on one of my stocking stuffers (chocolate coffered espresso beans), I realized that chocolate would be one the fruits forbidden to me during my vegan adventure. Sure, there was carob, a chocolate substitute, but what could really replace the smooth, creamy deliciousness of a […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 3: Family reaction
Hatching a New Years’ Plan I decided to put my plan into action for New Years. After all, a New Year, a new start…and that way, I wouldn’t have to sacrifice all my Christmas goodies. As I sit sipping tea (with milk) and banana bread (made with eggs and butter), I relished my last few […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 2: Steph gives me the vegan skinny
I decided to get the skinny from one of my vegan friends. Actually, she’s my only vegan friend. We met at a coffee shop and I had my favorite dairylicious breakfast of muffin and latte. I am aware my days may be numbered. Stephanie is one of those quiet vegans, who goes about her business […]
Going Vegan, Ep. 1: Chronicles of an vegan experiment
This is an everyday girl’s chronicle into the jungles of veganism. It’s for skeptics, the dabblers, the curious, the tolerant, the intolerant – for anyone who’s peered over the fence of conventional eating and wondered just what the hell was growing in the neighbor’s lawn. For anyone who wants to shake up their the burgers […]
Chakras – the practical side for the dubious
The chakras can seem a little…well, out there. Whirling wheels of energy? Rainbow light? Huh? But if we think about the body and its functions, the chakras do seem to match up pretty well to how we work. The root chakra – muladhara – is at our pelvic floor and deals with earth, downward energy, […]
Bakasana – stoking the inner fire
Bakasana is one of those asani that looks impossible until you actually do it. “You want me to put my knees where and balance on my what?” we think with dismay. But with just a few steps, you two can begin to find the effortless flight that characterizes this arm balance. And the key lies […]