and unto dust you shall return

The Daily Doodle: Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return. I am born Christian, my hubby is of Jewish descent and our household combines the two faiths with other beliefs and traditions mixed in.* Above all, we are yogis! These next 40 days of Lent are a season of penance, reflection and fasting. Lent is an opportunity to develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. Christian or not, for the next six weeks let's impose a personal penance. A penance should require a little deprivation, but nothing that hinders us from our duties. Lent is a time for self-scrutinization and healing.

Uttana Shishosana: Extended Puppy Pose or Puppy Bow

In this pose, drop your heart to the earth. This is the pose dogs use when they want to play!

*"Other beliefs and traditions mixed in": The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Ronpoche is a favorite in our household

beautiful nightwear makes a point

The Daily Doodle: Forgo sweats and bring back the nightgown. Or here's a thought: nightgown over sweats! The impeccable Blair steals my heart (as always) in her two piece burnt orange silk nightgown set. From the 2012 Valentine's Day episode of Gossip Girl. 

Today is Fat Tuesday, so have your fun and then meditate on how you may want to pare down for the next 40 days of Lent beginning tomorrow...

Dirty Soap

The Daily Doodle: Get clean for Spring: spottless house, new clothes, pure body!

Not-so spring-like or squeaky clean: I've been watching 2011 re-runs of E's Dirty Soap.

30 days until Spring

The Daily Doodle: Countdown to Spring: 30 days (and every second a little less!)

Ustrasana: Camel Pose

Ustra: Camel

Press your hips forward in this pose so they remain in line with or even slightly forward of your knees to protect your low back. Always protect that low back! Also, see if you can relax your head backwards while keeping your breath steady and remaining calm. This pose is meant to be uncomfortable.* Ustrasana induces a fight-or-flight response: by breathing through and relaxing into this asana in a controlled yogic environment we are practicing to breathe through and relax in life's unpredictable and unavoidable sticky situations.

*uncomfortable, not painful!

put on your Monday Best

The Daily Doodle: There is no substitute for practice. I have been yogiing on my own rather than in a studio for the last eight weeks or so which means I have been stretching, breathing and meditating in short bouts no where near an hour or an hour and a half at a time. I will incorporate my trusty at-home podcasts for added structure and discipline – tapas – but it is likely time to step back into the classroom. Argh, do I have to???

That being said, please recall yoga can be done ANYWHERE!

1. Basalt, CO 2. Moab, UT 3. Hana, HI 4. Pacific Beach, CA 5. Cote D'azur, FR 6. Palm Beach, FL 7. and 8. Aspen, CO

the Good Behavior Board and what I learned

The Daily Doodle: Because so many of you seemed to enjoy the Good Behavior Board –and you all made your own versions, right?– I thought I would do a follow-up. The results surprised me. For example, I clean the house every morning without exception, the perpetually dehydrated old me had no trouble picking up better H2O habits, and I rise before 8AM without trying. The board reaffirmed that I am a morning person, so if I want something done I better plan on doing it before lunch. 

The areas of difficulty were also a revelation. The changes I would like to see are: more yoga (always more yoga!!!), more weight lifting, and more at-home spa treatments. By seeing it all on one big sheet of paper I was also able to create a plan to painlessly add the items that are important to me, but are apparently a constant struggle to complete: On weeknights if J and I are watching a show or movie before bed I will lift weights or do a mask during the TV viewing to curb snacking. Oh, and more yoga. That's all. When you write down what you want to do versus what you do for one week it really is that simple.

I didn't extend the board longer than one week because I learned what I needed to, but I will likely be repeating it in the future.

California Valentine

The Daily Doodle: Pleasure is about being and feeling over having. Sharpen your senses to make your every moment fuller. Really smell, touch, taste, see, and hear to get the most out of everyday experiences. Pampering does not have to do with decadence nor is self-punishment a path to well-being. –abridged thoughts from Mireille Guiliano

Share your love

Who would choose petty, acidic, life-deteriorating competition for an illusionary spot on an illusionary hierarchy over freely conducting love and joy with our fellow man?

The Daily Doodle: Open your heart this February! Urdhva Dhanurasana, Wheel Pose.

Urdhva: Upward 

Dhanu: Bow

Share your love and organize a yoga session with friends. No mats necessary.